About Lena

Biography

Senator Lena C. Taylor was elected on November 2, 2004 to represent Wisconsin’s 4th District, becoming only the second African American woman to serve in the State Senate. Previously, Lena won an April 2003 special election in the 18th Assembly District. She served in the State Assembly from May 2003 until she was sworn-in as State Senator on January 3, 2005.

Deep Roots

Born and raised in Milwaukee County, Lena lives on the same block as her childhood home, and a short distance from her teen years at Rufus King and undergraduate days at U.W.-Milwaukee.

Growing up in the family business taught Lena fiscal responsibility and hard work early in life. To pay her way through undergraduate, Lena lived at home and worked three jobs. She left Milwaukee County for a brief stint to attend law school at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Upon graduation, Lena moved back home to face her toughest challenge in her life—becoming a “sister-mom” to her younger brother. For the next two-and-a-half years she parented her brother while working to pay off her law school loans.

With the money she saved, Lena purchased her first property and started a law practice. Soon Lena had grown Taylor and Associates to two businesses, including twenty real estate properties, several lawyers, and five support staff.

In the Legislature

Lena has used her time in the State Legislature to fight for her community. She has helped to improve access to quality education, economic development, and improvements to the justice system. Lena’s work has also included steps toward achieving access to health care for all, with a special interest in women’s health. As a member of the Joint Committee on Finance she helped to bring millions of new dollars to Milwaukee County, specifically for education, public safety, and transit services.

Knowing their challenges first-hand, Lena is committed to outreach with children and young adults who struggle with the same choices that she herself faced as a youth in Milwaukee. She frequently visits schools, youth development programs, and churches to stress the importance of making good decisions, staying in school, and pursuing dreams—big and small.

Lena and her eight-year-old son Isaiah live in the city of Milwaukee.