Elissa Blair Slotkin is an American politician and former intelligence official who has served as the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 7th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously represented the state's 8th congressional district from 2019 to 2023.
Slotkin was born on July 10, 1976, in New York City and raised on a farm in Holly, Michigan. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University in 1998 and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in 2003.
Prior to her career in elected office, Slotkin served as a professional in the national security and intelligence communities. Following the September 11 attacks, she joined the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as an analyst. During her tenure, she served three tours in Iraq as a national security professional. Her career in the federal government included roles under both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, where she worked for the State Department and the National Security Council. Between 2012 and 2015, she held several senior positions at the Department of Defense, eventually serving as the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs from 2015 to 2017.
In 2018, Slotkin ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Michigan's 8th congressional district, defeating the Republican incumbent. She was re-elected in 2020 and, following redistricting, won election to the 7th district in 2022. During her time in Congress, her legislative work has frequently focused on national security, veterans' affairs, healthcare costs, and domestic manufacturing. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Agriculture Committee.
In February 2023, Slotkin announced her candidacy for the United States Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Debbie Stabenow in the 2024 election.