Maxine Moore Waters (b. 1938). An American politician and civil rights advocate serving as the U.S. Representative for California’s 43rd congressional district since 1991. A prominent and often polarizing figure in the Democratic Party, she is known for her outspoken, unapologetic style and her steadfast advocacy for racial justice, economic equity, and progressive causes. As a high-ranking member of the Congressional Black Caucus and one of the most influential African-American women in U.S. politics, Waters has built a reputation as a fierce critic of conservative policies and presidents, famously championing the mantra “reclaiming my time” during a 2017 committee hearing and urging public confrontation of Trump administration officials. [Luce Index™ score: 92]
Early Life and Political Career. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Waters moved to Los Angeles in 1961. Her early career was in public service, working in Head Start and serving on the staff of Los Angeles City Councilman David S. Cunningham. She was elected to the California State Assembly in 1976, where she served for 14 years, establishing herself as a trailblazer on issues affecting women, minorities, and the poor. In 1991, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, succeeding the retiring Augustus Hawkins.
Tenure and Political Stances. Throughout her decades in Congress, Waters has been a vocal advocate for urban policy and a critic of what she terms the “prison-industrial complex.” She played a key role in the response to the 1992 Los Angeles riots and was an early and persistent critic of the Iraq War. She served as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus from 1997 to 1999 and rose to become the Chair of the House Financial Services Committee from 2019 to 2023, where she oversaw banking, housing, and insurance policy. Her tenure has been marked by a focus on consumer protection, holding Wall Street accountable, and investigating the subprime mortgage crisis. Waters gained national prominence during the Trump presidency for her forceful opposition, leading calls for his impeachment early in his term and becoming a frequent target of his criticism.
Notable Public Engagements. Maxine Waters is renowned for her direct and confrontational style of politics. During the Trump administration, she repeatedly encouraged supporters to publicly confront officials over policies such as family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border, stating, “If you see anybody from that cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them.” These comments were widely debated and criticized by Republicans, while her supporters viewed them as a legitimate form of civil disobedience. Her “reclaiming my time” moment during a hearing with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin became a viral cultural phenomenon, symbolizing a refusal to be sidetracked and a demand for accountability.
Legacy and Influence. Often referred to as “Auntie Maxine” by her admirers, Waters is considered a hero to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and a symbol of resistance. She has been a mentor to a generation of younger politicians of color. Despite facing House ethics investigations, which ultimately concluded with no sanctions, and frequent criticism from the right, her political influence has remained formidable. Her career exemplifies a shift toward more assertive and identity-conscious politics, and she remains a central figure in debates over race, gender, and power in America. Maxine Waters has been featured on the cover of Time magazine.