Katherine Marlea Clark is an American attorney and politician serving as the U.S. House Minority Whip since 2023 and in her seventh term representing Massachusetts's 5th congressional district since 2013. Born on July 17, 1963, in Bristol, Connecticut, Clark graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in 1985 and earned her Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 1989. She began her legal career as a prosecutor in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, and later worked as a law clerk and general counsel. Entering politics, Clark was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2007, serving from 2008 to 2011, and then to the Massachusetts Senate from 2011 to 2013. In 2013, she won a special election to succeed Niki Tsongas in Congress, becoming a key figure in House Democratic leadership as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus from 2019 to 2021 and Assistant Speaker from 2021 to 2023. Her legislative focus includes issues like gun violence prevention, family leave, and economic equity, often drawing from her experiences as a mother of three. She has been a vocal advocate for women's rights and has criticized Republican policies on healthcare and immigration. Prior to her rise in leadership, Clark served on committees such as Energy and Commerce and Oversight and Reform. Her career reflects a progression from local prosecutor to national leader, with strong ties to Massachusetts' Democratic establishment. Financially, she has received significant support from donors like Goodwin Procter, a major law firm.