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Cleo Fields
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Cleo C. Fields[1] (born November 22, 1962)[2] is an American attorney and politician who serves in the United States House of Representatives, currently representing Louisiana's 6th congressional district. He previously represented Louisiana's 4th congressional district from 1993 to 1997 and ran unsuccessfully for governor of Louisiana in 1995. He has served as a member of the Louisiana State Senate on three different occasions. Fields is a member of the Democratic Party.

Key Information

Fields received his undergraduate and law degrees from Southern University in Baton Rouge. In 1980, he founded the fundraising group Young Adults for Positive Action and in 1987 he was elected to the Louisiana Senate. He ran for Congress in 1990 and was defeated but was re-elected to the State Senate for the 14th district in 1991.

Fields was elected to represent Louisiana's 4th congressional district in the House of Representatives in 1992 and re-elected in 1994. He ran for governor in 1995, coming in second in the jungle primary before losing to Mike Foster in the general election. He did not run for re-election to the House in 1996 and was succeeded by Republican John Cooksey.

Fields was elected to the State Senate in 1997 and re-elected in 2003, then ran unsuccessfully for the Louisiana Public Service Commission in 2004. On October 1, 2007, the Louisiana State Supreme Court ruled that Fields could not stand for re-election to his State Senate seat because of term limits. The state legislature had passed a law in 2006 that had defined the date of the swearing in of Fields and of the intended beneficiary, Shreveport Republican Wayne Waddell, in a way that would have allowed Fields and Waddell to stand for re-election in November 2007 and serve one more term, but the court ruled the law unconstitutional. He was elected to the seat again in 2019.

On January 23, 2024, Fields announced a campaign to return to Congress after court-ordered redistricting gave Louisiana a second Black-majority and Democratic-leaning seat.[3] He won the November election and was sworn into the House of Representatives after a 28-year absence on January 3, 2025.

Early life and education

[edit]

Fields was born on November 22, 1962 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was educated at McKinley High School.[4][5]

Fields attended Southern University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree and Juris Doctor.[6]

Career

[edit]

While still in law school, Fields began his first campaign for Louisiana State Senate, doing most of the organizational work himself and writing his own jingles for radio commercials. Fields began by building a base with college students in his campaign against longtime incumbent Richard Turnley. To the surprise of some experts, he unseated Turnley, who in the Commercial-Appeal referred to Fields as "a very ambitious young man and an astute campaigner."[7]

U.S. House of Representatives

[edit]
Congressional photo of Representative Cleo Fields, 1990s

Fields served in the state Senate for six years. In 1990, he entered the nonpartisan blanket primary for the 8th District, but was defeated in the first round by incumbent Republican Clyde Holloway. He ran again in 1992, this time in the newly created 4th District, a 63 percent black majority district stretching in a "Z" shape from Shreveport to Baton Rouge. He finished first in a crowded seven-way primary, coming roughly 1,500 votes short of winning outright. He was forced into a runoff against fellow state senator Charles D. Jones of Monroe, which Fields won with more than 73 percent of the vote. At thirty, he was once again the youngest legislator. He advanced his agenda in Congress through the House Small Business Committee, the House Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs Committee, the Housing and Community Opportunity Committee, and several others.

Fields was a staunch liberal while in Congress. He received a 0 percentage rating by the Christian Coalition and the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Meanwhile, progressive interest groups such as the National Abortion Rights Action League, PeacePAC, and the American Public Health Association, as well as a range of labor-affiliated organizations, gave him a perfect rating. His efforts as a legislator often involved channeling funds into education and protecting consumers from the excesses of insurers, banks, and other such institutions. Congressional Quarterly noted that Fields "has tried to use his seats on the Banking Committee and the Small Business Committee to leverage capital for small businesses willing to relocate in his district, where poverty rates are high." Though he made many political enemies with his voting record, his personal standing in Congress remained high. When his first child was born in 1995, he won cheers from his colleagues on the floor.[8]

Fields's district was designed to collect a larger black populace — and more black votes — than a competing version. After various challenges, referrals to higher courts, and redraws, Fields was finally able to run in his custom-designed district and trounced a nominal Republican challenger in 1994. His district woes were far from over, however, and the district was ultimately thrown out by the Supreme Court as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. His home in Baton Rouge was placed in the 6th District of Republican Richard Baker, while the northern portions were split between the 4th and 5th districts.

1995 Louisiana gubernatorial election

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Main article: 1995 Louisiana gubernatorial election

In 1995 he became a candidate for Louisiana governor. Many in his party were angered by his candidacy, since most felt that a black challenger could not seriously win the office and Mason-Dixon Polling released on October 17, 1995 showed Fields to be the loser in every possible head-to-head combination of candidates.[citation needed] He narrowly beat the top two white Democratic candidates in the primary and made it to a runoff with Republican Mike Foster. Though race had been a preeminent factor during his Congressional redistricting fight, Fields vowed not to emphasize color in the election, proclaiming, "I'm not running to be the African American governor, but to be the best governor," in a speech excerpted in the Chicago Tribune. "Don't vote for me because I'm black, ... don't vote against me because I'm black." His remarks in the Los Angeles Times continued this theme: "When a baby cries, it's not a white baby or a black baby — it's a hungry baby," he asserted. "When people cry for job opportunities, they're not black or white — they're unemployed." He was also outspoken in his support for gun control, which Foster opposed.

Foster's conservative message, designed by media consultant Roy Fletcher, who also had handled Cleo Fields' campaign for Congress, resonated with Louisiana's voters, who in a previous election had given former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke nearly 40 percent of the popular vote. As the polls predicted, Fields was defeated soundly in the runoff. Exit polling showed that 95% of his votes came from the black community.[citation needed] During this race Fields began a feud with fellow Democrat Mary Landrieu who did not endorse him in the second round. Like many, she believed his bid had been funded by Republicans and was intended to be a spoiler to let Foster win. Fields retaliated by labeling her campaign racist and refusing to endorse her in her later race for United States Senate.

Louisiana Senate

[edit]

In 1997, Fields was again elected to the Louisiana Senate for the 14th district. He served at the same time as his brother Wilson until Wilson Fields won a judgeship, the first time in Louisiana history that two brothers served together in the Senate. In 1997, Fields was caught on an FBI surveillance tape stuffing about $20,000 in cash in his pockets after accepting it from then Governor Edwin Edwards. Fields was not charged with a crime.[9]

Fields served until he became ineligible to run for re-election because of term limits. An amendment to the term limits law was meant to have enabled him to run for another term, but the new law was invalidated by the Louisiana Supreme Court. He was succeeded in 2008 by Yvonne Dorsey-Colomb.

In 2019, Dorsey-Colomb was herself term-limited, and Fields ran to succeed her. On October 12, 2019, Fields was re-elected to the 14th senatorial district, making history again by becoming the first person in Louisiana to return to the Senate for the third time. He defeated State Representative Patricia Haynes Smith with 53% of the vote.

Return to Congress

[edit]
See also: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana § District 6

In 2023, federal courts ruled that Louisiana's Congressional map, drawn after the 2020 census, was an unlawful racial gerrymander and that a second majority Black seat needed to be drawn to comply with the Voting Rights Act.[10] The new map, featuring a second majority Black district numbered the 6th district, was finalized on January 23, 2024, and signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry.[11] Fields announced his candidacy for the 6th district the same day.[3] The new 6th contains much of the area Fields represented in his first stint in Congress. He won the November election to return to Congress after a 28-year absence.

Committee assignments

[edit]
Fields at a March 2025 town hall

Rep. Fields was appointed to the Committee on Financial Services for the 119th United States Congress.[12]

Caucus memberships

[edit]

Personal life

[edit]

Fields is a Baptist.[14]

Relationship with Edwin Edwards

[edit]

In the 1997 trial of former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards, prosecutors released an FBI surveillance videotape showed him receiving a large amount of cash ($20,000 to $25,000) which the FBI believed was to be used to influence votes in granting casino licenses. Fields was named an "unindicted co-conspirator,"[15] but was never formally charged. Jim Letten, leader of the prosecution team and later acting U.S. attorney, said Fields came close to being indicted.[16] At the time, Fields stated that the incident was just an innocent business transaction between friends, and said there was a humorous explanation, which he would make public shortly thereafter. A cloud hung over Fields in Edwards' criminal trial and in the end Fields refused to deliver the promised "humorous" explanation, stating that at the time of the cash transfer, he was not an elected official, and therefore under no obligation to explain publicly.[17][18]

"Rosa Parks sat...."

[edit]

Fields is credited with the original version of a quotation that became popular following Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential election. At the "State of the Black Union 2008" symposium in New Orleans, Louisiana in February 2008, Fields said, "Rosa Parks sat down so we could stand up. Martin Luther King marched so Jesse Jackson could run. Jesse Jackson ran so Obama could win."[19] Another version has Fields saying, "W. E. B. Du Bois taught so that Rosa Parks could take a seat. Rosa took a seat so we all could take a stand. We all took a stand so that Martin Luther King Jr. could march. Martin marched so Jesse Jackson could run. Jesse ran so Obama could WIN."[20] Fields's statement was shortened by the rapper Jay-Z in "My President Is Black": "Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther could walk/ Martin Luther walked so Barack Obama could run/ Barack Obama ran so all the children could fly."[21]

Elections

[edit]
Louisiana gubernatorial nonpartisan primary, 1995
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Foster 385,267 26.10
Democratic Cleo Fields 280,921 19.03
Democratic Mary Landrieu 271,938 18.43
Republican Buddy Roemer 263,330 17.84
Democratic Phil Preis 133,271 9.03
Democratic Melinda Schwegmann 71,288 4.83
Democratic Robert Adley 27,534 1.87
Independent Arthur D. "Jim" Nichols 16,616 1.13
Democratic Gene H. Alexander 5,688 0.39
Independent Kenneth Woods 4,964 0.34
Independent Darryl Paul Ward 4,210 0.29
Democratic Belinda Alexandrenko 3,161 0.21
Independent Lonnie Creech 2,338 0.16
Independent Ronnie Glynn Johnson 1,884 0.13
Independent Anne Thompson 1,416 0.1
Total votes 1,473,826 100
Louisiana gubernatorial election runoff, 1995
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Foster 984,499 63.5
Democratic Cleo Fields 565,861 36.5
Total votes 1,550,360 100
Republican gain from Democratic
Louisiana's 6th congressional district election, 2024[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Cleo Fields 150,323 50.8
Republican Elbert Guillory 111,737 37.7
Democratic Quentin Anderson 23,811 8.0
Democratic Peter Williams 6,252 2.1
Democratic Wilken Jones Jr. 3,910 1.3
Total votes 296,033 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

[edit]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Cleo Fields

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Cleo Fields (born November 22, 1962) is an American attorney and Democratic politician who serves as the U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 6th congressional district, a position he has held since 2025 after previously representing the 4th district from 1993 to 1997. Born in Baton Rouge to a dockworker father and a maid mother as one of ten children, Fields graduated from McKinley High School in 1980 and Southern University in 1984 before attending law school. Elected to the in 1987 at age 24, Fields became the youngest person ever to serve in that body and, at the time, the youngest in the nation. His early political rise included serving multiple terms in the , focusing on issues affecting his district in the Baton Rouge area, before his initial successful bid for in 1992, where he was among the youngest members of the 103rd . After losing re-election in 1996 amid changes and a runoff challenge, Fields returned to state politics before reclaiming a congressional seat in 2024 following further that altered Louisiana's district map to comply with Voting Rights Act considerations. Fields' career has been marked by a focus on constituent services, education, and in Louisiana's , though it has also faced scrutiny over past associations, including a 1990s FBI recording capturing him receiving cash from an undercover agent in an investigation that did not result in charges against him. Reelected in 2024, he continues to serve on committees addressing banking, , and matters, drawing on his experience as a former state legislator and practicing attorney.

Early Life and Education

Upbringing and Family Background

Cleo Fields was born on November 22, 1962, in Baton Rouge, , into a working-class African-American family as one of ten children. His father, Isidore Fields, worked as a and died in a car crash when Cleo was four years old, leaving the family without his primary support. His mother, Alice Fields, subsequently raised the ten children by working as a to provide for their needs. Fields grew up in Baton Rouge during a period of economic hardship for his family following his father's death, with his mother bearing the full responsibility of supporting the large household through domestic labor. Among his siblings is Wilson Fields, who later served as a and district judge. This early environment of familial reliance and maternal resilience shaped Fields' formative years in the city's north end.

Academic and Early Professional Development

Fields graduated from McKinley Senior High School in , in 1980. He then attended and A&M College, earning a in mass communications in 1984. During his time at , Fields demonstrated early leadership by serving as class vice president in high school and engaging in student activities, which laid the groundwork for his community involvement. In 1984, Fields enrolled at , completing his in 1987. While pursuing his legal education, he clerked for the East Baton Rouge Parish City Prosecutor's Office, gaining practical experience in criminal prosecution. Concurrently, in 1980 as an undergraduate, he founded Young Adults for Positive Action (also referenced as Young Adults for Positive Education in some records), a nonprofit fundraising organization focused on community and civic initiatives in Baton Rouge, where he served as president and . These roles marked his initial foray into organizational leadership and advocacy prior to entering elected office.

Political Career

Service in the Louisiana State Senate

Cleo Fields was first elected to the in 1987, representing the 14th District, which encompasses parts of East Baton Rouge Parish including Baton Rouge. At age 24, he became the youngest person ever elected to the and, at the time, the youngest in the United States. His initial term ran from 1988 to 1993, during which he focused on issues affecting urban communities, education, and in his district. As a senator, Fields chaired the Legislative Black Caucus and served on committees related to and affairs, advocating for policies aimed at reducing crime and promoting inner-city revitalization. He authored establishing drug-free zones around campuses to enhance safety by imposing harsher penalties for drug-related offenses in proximity to educational institutions. Additionally, Fields sponsored measures creating an Inner City Economic Development Program to support business growth and job creation in underserved areas of Baton Rouge. Fields' early senatorial service emphasized constituent services and bipartisan efforts on local , though specific voting records from this period highlight his alignment with Democratic priorities on education funding and reforms tailored to minority communities. He did not seek re-election to the in 1991 after winning a seat in the U.S. in 1992, effectively concluding his initial tenure in January 1993.

First Term in the U.S. (1993–1997)

Cleo Fields was elected to the U.S. in the elections, defeating Republican opponent Sam A. LeBlanc Jr. to represent Louisiana's newly drawn 4th congressional district, which encompassed parts of central and northern and had a that was approximately 60% . At age 30 upon taking office in January 1993, Fields became the youngest member of the 103rd Congress (1993–1995). The district's creation followed Louisiana's to comply with the Voting Rights Act, aiming to enhance minority representation. During his tenure, Fields served on the House Committee on Small Business and the House Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs, where he focused on issues affecting small businesses, , and urban in his district. These assignments aligned with his prior experience in the , emphasizing economic opportunities for underserved communities. Fields sponsored several bills addressing regional economic needs, consumer protections, and public safety. In the 103rd , he introduced H.R. 1448, the Check Cashing Act of 1993 on March 24, which sought to cap fees charged by non-bank entities for cashing government and payroll checks to protect low-income consumers from predatory practices. He also sponsored H.R. 3639, the Stolen Guns Act of 1994, which aimed to amend federal criminal code provisions to require licensed firearms dealers to verify before accepting guns, targeting the trafficking of stolen weapons. Additionally, H.R. 4043, the Lower Mississippi Delta Initiatives Act of 1994, introduced on March 16, directed the Secretaries of the Interior and to develop coordinated initiatives for infrastructure, education, and economic revitalization in the Lower region, including parts of . Fields was reelected in 1994 to serve in the 104th (1995–1997), continuing his committee roles amid ongoing debates over the of race-based districting.

1995 Louisiana Gubernatorial Campaign

In Louisiana's open primary for governor on October 21, 1995, U.S. Representative Cleo Fields secured second place with 280,921 votes, representing 19.03% of the total, behind Republican state Senator Mike Foster's 385,267 votes (26.10%). This result advanced Fields, a Democrat, to the November 18 runoff against Foster, as no candidate achieved a majority in the 16-candidate field. Fields' performance reflected consolidation of support among black voters, who comprised a significant portion of the Democratic base in the state, amid a fragmented primary that eliminated higher-profile contenders like Congressman William J. Jefferson. The runoff pitted Fields, a 32-year-old liberal Democrat from Baton Rouge, against Foster, a conservative Republican known for low-profile campaigning. Fields positioned himself as a youthful reformer emphasizing , economic opportunity, and , drawing on his congressional experience and appeal to minority communities. A November 1 debate between the candidates highlighted contrasts on , , and , with Fields advocating progressive stances and Foster stressing traditional conservative priorities. Despite Fields' efforts to broaden his coalition, including outreach to white moderates via events like Rotary Club appearances, the campaign underscored deep ideological and racial divides in politics. Foster won the runoff on with 984,499 votes (63.50%) to Fields' 565,861 (36.50%), marking only the second Republican gubernatorial victory in modern history. The outcome demonstrated pronounced racial polarization, as Fields captured nearly all votes while Foster dominated among voters, a consistent with empirical analyses of parish-level returns and turnout data. Post-election studies linked Fields' defeat to symbolic racial attitudes influencing voter preferences, beyond explicit campaign rhetoric on race, reinforcing the role of racial resentment in Southern subpresidential contests during this era. Fields' bid, while unsuccessful, elevated his profile as a prominent political figure in the state, though it also highlighted challenges for Democratic candidates reliant on minority turnout in racially segregated electorates.

Extended Tenure in the Louisiana State Senate

Fields returned to the on December 13, 1997, after winning a special to fill a vacancy in the 14th District, representing parts of East Baton Rouge Parish. He secured full terms in the subsequent elections of 1999 and 2003, serving continuously until the end of his 2003 term in 2008. During this span, Fields established the Louisiana Leadership Institute, a aimed at providing educational and leadership programs for urban youth in Baton Rouge. In September 2007, challengers filed suit alleging Fields violated Constitution Article III, § 4(E), which restricts senators to no more than two and one-half consecutive terms in office. The upheld the challenge on October 1, 2007, ruling that Fields's partial 1997 term, combined with his full terms in 1999 and 2003, exceeded the limit, barring him from the , 2007, ballot. The decision ended his immediate service, though Fields pursued other political ventures, including an unsuccessful 2004 bid for the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Fields re-entered the in 2019, defeating Democrat Patricia Smith in the October 12 primary for District 14 amid debates over his residency within the district boundaries. His term focused on local issues, including a 2022 bill (SB 284) to prohibit agencies from hiring officers terminated or resigned under investigation for serious misconduct in other departments, aimed at enhancing public safety standards. Fields supported Bill 388 in May 2024, which criminalized unlawful entry and re-entry by undocumented immigrants into , passing 26-10. He resigned from the effective January 2025 following his November 2024 election to the U.S. House, marking the end of over two decades of intermittent state legislative service.

Redistricting, 2024 Election, and Return to Congress

In response to a 2022 federal court ruling under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which found that Louisiana's previous congressional map diluted Black voting strength despite Black residents comprising over 32% of the state's voting-age population, the state legislature redrew its six districts in early 2024 to create a second majority-Black district. The revised map reconfigured the 6th Congressional District to stretch approximately 200 miles from Baton Rouge northward through central Louisiana to Shreveport, incorporating rural parishes and urban areas with a Black voting-age population of about 54%, transforming it from a Republican-leaning seat held by incumbent Garrett Graves since 2015 into one favoring Democratic candidates. Graves opted not to seek reelection in the altered district, opening the race for State Senator Cleo Fields, who announced his candidacy in February 2024 after serving in the state senate since 1997 and previously representing 4th district in the U.S. House from 1993 to 1997. Fields campaigned on local economic development, infrastructure improvements, and community representation, drawing on his legislative experience in Baton Rouge. Louisiana's nonpartisan "jungle primary" system consolidated the November 5, 2024, election into a single ballot, where Fields secured 50.6% of the vote—approximately 128,000 votes—against Democratic challenger Quentin Anthony Anderson (31.2%), Republican (14.4%), and independents Wilken Jones and Monique Triche Blanco (combined under 4%). This outright majority avoided a December runoff, flipping the district to Democratic control for the first time since its reconfiguration and marking a net gain for Democrats in the U.S. . Fields was sworn into the 119th on , 2025, resuming his federal service nearly three decades after his initial tenure ended amid the 1996 redistricting that eliminated his prior . His return highlighted the impact of judicially mandated racial considerations in , though the map faced ongoing constitutional challenges alleging racial , with the U.S. deferring review to its 2025-2026 term without immediate invalidation.

Legislative Record

Committee Assignments

During his initial service in the 103rd and 104th Congresses (1993–1997), Cleo Fields was assigned to the House Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs, which oversaw banking regulations, housing policy, and urban development initiatives, as well as the House Committee on , focusing on support and small business lending programs. In the 119th Congress (2025–present), Fields was appointed to the House Committee on Financial Services, responsible for jurisdiction over the nation's housing and financial sectors, including banking, insurance, real estate, securities, and consumer protection laws enforced by agencies such as the , FDIC, and HUD. Within this committee, he serves on three subcommittees: the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, which examines U.S. capital markets, securities regulation, and government-sponsored enterprises like and ; the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and , addressing banking system stability, financial regulators, access to credit, and monetary policy oversight; and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, tasked with probing agencies and programs under the committee's purview for compliance and efficacy. During the 119th Congress, Cleo Fields sponsored H.R. 5084, the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Enhancement Act, introduced to expand eligibility and benefits for specifically targeting educators in underserved areas. He also sponsored H.R. 5083, directing the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection and the to study the use of additional borrower data in small-dollar loan assessments to promote fair lending practices without increasing regulatory burdens. Additionally, Fields introduced the Securities Research Modernization Act, amending the to facilitate timely and accurate securities research for small businesses, aiming to reduce compliance costs in capital markets. These initiatives reflect a focus on , consumer , and economic access for small entities, though none have advanced beyond introduction as of October 2025. Fields has served as cosponsor on over 100 bills in the , predominantly Democratic priorities such as expansions to the Domestic Workers Act and measures enhancing federal oversight of advertising equity. Notable cosponsorships include H.R. 22, the SAVE Act, which he supported despite its verification requirements, and various resolutions on and disapproval of executive actions. His sponsorship activity aligns with committee roles in , emphasizing regulatory modernization over expansive new mandates. Fields' voting patterns in the 119th exhibit near-unanimous alignment with the Democratic , recording a 99.3% party unity score across 280 votes, with only one deviation from the majority and two absences. He consistently opposed Republican-led measures, including nays on H.R. 22 (SAVE Act, requiring proof of citizenship for ) on April 10, 2025, and the congressional resolution (H. Con. Res. 14) on February 25, 2025, citing concerns over restrictive provisions. Similarly, Fields voted against disapprovals of Biden-era regulations, such as H.J. Res. 104 on September 3, 2025, prioritizing continuity in environmental and consumer protections. This record underscores a progressive Democratic posture, with limited bipartisan engagement in a Republican-controlled .

Political Positions

Ideological Alignment and Party Ties

Cleo Fields has maintained lifelong affiliation with the Democratic Party, beginning with his election to the in 1986 at age 23, the youngest member at the time. He represented as a Democrat from 1993 to 1997 and returned to the U.S. House in January 2025 for the 6th district following a court-mandated that created a majority-Black district. The Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee formally endorsed his 2024 congressional bid, underscoring his standing within state party structures. Fields' ideological alignment leans liberal, particularly on social and economic issues, as reflected in his historical voting record. During his initial congressional term, he received the highest liberal voting scores among Louisiana's delegation in 1995 according to independent analyses. The Americans for Democratic Action rated him 70% liberal in 1996 based on key votes. More recent assessments describe his as progressive, including criticism of Republican policies and support for Democratic priorities such as expanding access to and economic opportunity. His campaign platform emphasizes progressive economic measures, including raising the federal —unchanged since 2009—to address poverty in and providing alongside investments in K-12 and higher education. Fields has ties to Democratic factions focused on minority interests, including a profile with the Institute, and upon his 2025 return to , he aligns with the party's left-leaning wing on issues like , earning a 74% lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters. While expressing willingness to collaborate with Republicans on local concerns, his record and endorsements position him firmly within the Democratic mainstream rather than moderate or conservative subsets.

Stances on Economic, Social, and Foreign Policy Issues

Fields supports raising the federal , which has remained unchanged since 2009, arguing that workers in high-poverty states like deserve a for a day's labor. He prioritizes tailored to 's 6th District, including expansion in rural areas for job connectivity, attracting manufacturing jobs, leveraging USDA funds for businesses, and directing federal resources to urban small businesses. Fields has criticized Republican-led legislation, such as the "One Big Beautiful Bill," for proposed cuts of $186 billion from SNAP and $1 trillion from , which he claims would lead to hospital and closures affecting millions, while increasing the federal deficit by $3.8 trillion over a decade through tax breaks favoring high earners. On social issues, Fields emphasizes improving education by enhancing K-12 quality, making higher education affordable, combating debt, and funding research at land-grant institutions like . In criminal justice, he advocates creating a board and fund to reimburse wrongfully incarcerated individuals and opposed the 1994 Crime Bill during his first congressional term, citing its long-term negative impacts on communities. Regarding healthcare, Fields has prioritized lowering prices and cosponsored patient protection legislation in 1996. He has supported the , sponsoring related resolutions to advance . Fields' foreign policy views are less extensively documented, but he endorses maintaining secure U.S. borders while opposing aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, such as masked agents detaining individuals without , which he deems unconscionable and violative of constitutional rights. In a state legislative vote, he opposed HB 537, which sought to prohibit the Chinese and its citizens from certain activities, indicating restraint on broad restrictions targeting foreign entities.

Controversies and Criticisms

Association with Edwin Edwards

In 1997, during an FBI investigation into corruption involving riverboat gambling licenses, a hidden in former Louisiana Governor ' law office recorded Edwards handing Cleo Fields a bundle of cash estimated at $20,000 to $25,000. Fields, who had recently left the U.S. in January 1997, was seen stuffing the cash into his pockets and requesting a rubber band and paper to secure it. Federal prosecutors alleged the transaction was part of a broader scheme by Edwards and associates, who solicited payments from casino applicants in exchange for favorable treatment by the . They claimed Fields acted as a conduit, delivering the funds to Tarver to obtain a confidential report on license competitors, which Edwards then shared with casino developer Edward DeBartolo Jr. to aid his application. Fields was identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in the case but faced no charges, with FBI testimony indicating agents lacked resources in Baton Rouge to surveil or search him immediately after the exchange. Fields maintained he was a private citizen at the time and under no obligation to disclose details of the interaction, promising an after Edwards' but later declining to provide one. Edwards was convicted in 2000 on and charges related to the scheme, while Tarver and Gaming Board member Ecotry Fuller were acquitted. The incident has resurfaced in Fields' subsequent campaigns, portraying his ties to Edwards—a figure convicted of after multiple terms as —as a lingering ethical concern, though Fields continued to win elections without legal repercussions from the event.

"Rosa Parks Sat So You Can Drive a Mercedes" Remark

During the State of the Black Union 2008 symposium held in New Orleans on February 23, , Cleo Fields delivered remarks emphasizing a metaphorical progression in African American advancement tied to Barack Obama's presidential candidacy. Fields articulated: " sat down so we could stand up. King marched so could run. ran so Obama could win." The statement framed civil rights milestones—Parks' refusal to yield her bus seat on December 1, 1955, King's leadership in the and broader movement, and Jackson's and Democratic primary campaigns—as sequential steps culminating in Obama's bid, which Fields portrayed as an opportunity for further empowerment. The remark occurred amid internal divisions within the event's audience over Democratic primary support for Obama versus Hillary Clinton, with Fields aligning himself as a vocal Obama advocate. Event host Tavis Smiley had criticized Obama for declining to attend the symposium, citing scheduling conflicts with the Iowa caucuses, which heightened tensions and led to debates on loyalty to longstanding black institutions versus emerging political figures. Fields' rhetoric, invoking iconic figures to endorse Obama, was part of broader discussions on reclaiming democracy but drew scrutiny for potentially subordinating historical sacrifices to contemporary electoral goals. Critics, including some attendees and commentators, viewed the analogy as reductive, arguing it equated against systemic segregation—such as Parks' arrest sparking a 381-day that desegregated Montgomery buses on December 20, 1956—with political candidacies, thereby risking the dilution of their moral and causal weight in favor of partisan uplift. Fields, then a state senator, employed a sermonic style common in black political oratory, calling for the audience to "say amen" in rhythmic affirmation, which amplified the inspirational intent but also invited charges of rhetorical overreach amid the event's focus on policy accountability over personality-driven campaigns. No direct evidence links Fields to the specific phrasing "Rosa Parks Sat So You Can Drive a Mercedes," but the remark's progression motif has been echoed in broader critiques of civil rights narratives prioritizing symbolic or material gains—such as luxury consumption—over structural reforms, reflecting ongoing debates on the movement's legacy.

Insider Trading Allegations

In September 2025, U.S. Representative Cleo Fields (D-LA) faced scrutiny for purchasing stock shortly before the public announcement of Oracle's selection as a partner in a proposed U.S. of TikTok's operations. According to Fields' financial disclosure filings reviewed by investigative outlet , he acquired shares valued between $80,000 and $200,000 in across three transactions dated September 17, September 18, and September 23, 2025. These purchases occurred days before President Donald Trump's on September 24, 2025, which positioned Oracle to host TikTok's U.S. user data and algorithms as part of a deal to address concerns, potentially boosting Oracle's stock value. Oracle's shares rose approximately 5% in the days following the announcement, though broader market factors also influenced the performance. The timing raised questions under the of 2012, which prohibits members of from using nonpublic information obtained through their official duties for personal financial gain, with penalties including fines or imprisonment. Critics, including reports from and local media, highlighted the proximity of the trades to the developments, noting Fields' access to briefings and committee work that could provide early insights into such deals. However, no formal investigation by the House Ethics Committee, Securities and Exchange Commission, or Department of Justice had been announced as of October 2025, and such allegations against lawmakers often lack enforcement due to challenges in proving intent and the opacity of congressional information flows. Fields denied any wrongdoing, asserting in interviews that the purchases were part of his long-standing practice of trading and not based on confidential information. "There's not a single that I've purchased because I had some inside information. And I've been doing this for years," Fields stated on a local , emphasizing that accusations arise routinely with any congressional activity. Public trading records from platforms like Quantitative show Fields engaging in 161 transactions since entering in early 2025, including a significant purchase of shares valued between $3.2 million and $7.7 million in August 2025, though only the Oracle trades drew specific concerns tied to policy events. Fields maintained that his investments reflect personal financial strategy rather than exploitation of position.

Evaluations of Effectiveness and Ethical Concerns

Fields' legislative effectiveness has been evaluated primarily through his state senate tenure, where he sponsored bills that achieved passage, such as Senate Bill 70 in 2023, which authorized the creation of special districts for and was signed into law on June 8, 2023. He also advanced reforms, including legislation making kindergarten mandatory, which cleared the House Appropriations Committee 19-1 in 2021 before broader consideration. Supporters credit him with initiatives like the Delta Initiatives Act for regional economic support, though quantitative metrics such as overall bill passage rates remain undocumented in public analyses. In the U.S. House since January 3, 2025, his record as a Democrat in a Republican-controlled chamber shows limited enacted , consistent with partisan dynamics limiting minority-party success; for instance, he has expressed opposition to Republican-backed measures but sponsored bills like those on discrimination remedies remain in committee. Ethical concerns surrounding Fields center on allegations of insider trading and historical associations. In early 2025, reports emerged that Fields purchased a significant amount of stock shortly before announcements of the company's involvement in a deal, prompting scrutiny under the , which prohibits trading on nonpublic information gained through congressional duties. Fields denied any impropriety, asserting the purchase was part of routine personal investing and that accusations arise routinely for stock trades by members of . No formal investigation or charges have been filed as of 2025, though such incidents fuel broader critiques of congressional self-policing on financial disclosures. Past FBI footage from the depicting Fields receiving cash from former Governor —amid Edwards' corruption trial—has been cited by critics as indicative of ethical lapses in political , though Fields was not charged and maintains it was legitimate campaign support. These episodes have led evaluators to question his judgment in financial and associational matters, potentially undermining despite his denials and lack of convictions.

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

Cleo Fields has been married to Debra Fields (née Horton) since the early 1990s. The couple resides in , where Fields has maintained his professional and political base. Fields and his wife have two sons: Brandon Fields, born in 1995, and Christopher Fields, born in 1998. Both sons are adults, and Fields has publicly referenced his experiences as a father in discussions on family responsibilities and community values. Fields comes from a large family as the seventh of ten children; his younger brother, Wilson Fields, has also pursued a political career in the Legislature. No public records indicate additional marital relationships or significant family disputes.

Public Statements and Persona

Cleo Fields projects a as a passionate advocate for civil rights and democratic principles, often engaging communities through direct, conversational styles such as barbershop discussions where "real dialogue happens and no topic is off limits." His emphasizes of marginalized groups, drawing on his background as an attorney and long-serving legislator. Fields frequently highlights as a transformative force, stating it "can fix many of the issues our communities face" during his congressional campaign. In congressional addresses and press releases, Fields employs rhetorical appeals to constitutional rights and moral imperatives. For instance, on September 10, 2025, he declared in a floor speech that fair representation "is a constitutional right, and I will fight to make certain ALL citizens are never denied their rightful seat at the table of ." Similarly, defending efforts on August 27, 2025, he argued there was "no reason why S.B. 8 should not be defended fully and faithfully," underscoring the stakes for equitable political participation. Fields' statements often critique perceived threats to from political opponents. On July 29, 2025, he accused President of actions that bring the country "closer and closer to a ," framing the issue as "not about party; it's about right and wrong, constitutional and unconstitutional." He reiterated concerns about democratic erosion in oral arguments commentary on October 15, 2025, noting "just how much is at stake in our country's future" regarding voting rights cases. This pattern reflects a combative yet principled tone, prioritizing advocacy for his district's majority-Black population. Pragmatism surfaces in Fields' calls for bipartisan solutions amid partisan gridlock. Facing a potential government shutdown on September 30, 2025, he affirmed, "I did not come to to shut down the government. I came here to serve the people of 's Sixth District and find solutions." Policy proposals, such as forgiving student loans for teachers after eight years of public school service introduced around October 20, 2025, align with his focus on practical community benefits. Overall, Fields' persona combines oratorical fervor with legislative experience, shaped by decades in Louisiana politics.

Electoral History

State Senate Campaigns

Fields was first elected to the in 1987 at the age of 24, securing the District 14 seat and becoming the youngest state senator in the state's history. He assumed office in 1988 and served until 1992, when he successfully campaigned for the U.S. . Following his defeat in the congressional , Fields returned to state politics by winning a special for the District 14 Senate seat on December 13, 1997. He was reelected in 2001 and 2005, maintaining the seat through 2007. During this period, Fields chaired the Legislative Black Caucus and committees on , local and municipal affairs, and transportation. After leaving the Senate in 2007, Fields did not hold legislative office until winning reelection to District 14 in 2019, assuming office in 2020 for a term extending to . He vacated the seat following his successful 2024 congressional campaign. All of Fields's state victories occurred in Louisiana's nonpartisan blanket primary system, where candidates of all parties compete together, and the top two vote-getters advance to a if no one secures a .

Congressional and Gubernatorial Races

Fields won election to the in in 1992, becoming the youngest member of Congress at age 29. The district had been redrawn as a majority-minority seat following the , with race as the predominant factor in its serpentine configuration stretching from Baton Rouge to Shreveport. He served in the 103rd and 104th Congresses from January 3, 1993, to January 3, 1997. In the 1996 election cycle, a federal court invalidated the 4th district's boundaries as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, forcing a reconfiguration that eliminated its majority-Black character. Fields sought re-election in the altered district but was defeated in the Democratic primary by State Representative Jimmy Hayes, who went on to win the general as a Republican. This ruling and electoral outcome ended Fields's initial tenure in . Amid his congressional service, Fields entered the 1995 Louisiana gubernatorial race. In the open primary, he placed second with 280,921 votes (19.0 percent), advancing to a runoff against Republican Mike Foster Jr., who led with 26.1 percent. Foster, campaigning on conservative themes including opposition to , defeated Fields in the runoff by 984,499 votes (63.5 percent) to 565,861 (36.5 percent), amid stark racial polarization in voting patterns. Fields returned to the after his federal and gubernatorial defeats. He re-entered congressional politics in for the newly drawn 6th congressional district, configured as a second majority- district following a to remedy dilution of voting strength under the Voting Rights Act. In the November 5 jungle primary, Fields secured 51 percent of the vote, avoiding a runoff by outperforming Democratic challenger Quinten Anderson and Republican Elbert , thereby flipping the previously Republican-held seat. This marked his return to the House for the 119th .

References

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