Biography:

Chaka Fattah was born in Philadelphia and is a life-long resident of that city. He studied economics and business administration at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and received a master's degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania. He also studied at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

In 1979, Fattah made an unsuccessful bid for city commissioner. He also lost a congressional bid in 1991. He then ran for state House and was elected to his first term in 1983 at age 25. After serving three two-year terms, he was elected to the state Senate in 1988 and re-elected in 1992.

He defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Lucien Blackwell, a former member of the Philadelphia city council who served as an elected official for more than two decades, in the 1994 primary for U.S. House. He was elected to the seat that year.

Fattah is married to Philadelphia TV reporter Renee Chenault Fattah and has three children.

Past Campaigns:

Chaka Fattah was elected to the U.S. House in 1994 with 86 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Lawrence Watson.

He was re-elected in 1996 with 88 percent against Republican Larry Murphy. In 1998, Fattah defeated Republican Anne Marie Mulligan with 86 percent of the vote.

Fattah was re-elected with 98 percent of the vote in 2000 and with 88 percent in 2002. He did not have a primary challenger in 2004, and will face Republican Stewart Bolno in the November general election.

At age 25, Fattah was elected to the state House in 1982, narrowly defeating an entrenched incumbent by only 58 votes of more than 10,000 cast. He was re-elected in 1984 and 1986.

He was elected to the state Senate in 1988 and 1992.

In 1979, Fattah made an unsuccessful bid for Philadelphia city commissioner. He also lost a congressional bid in 1991.

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