Former School of Law professor Elizabeth Warren is no longer just a law professor, but the newly elected senator of Massachusetts.
Warren, a Democrat, defeated incumbent Sen. Scott Brown. As of 2 a.m. Wednesday, Warren carried 54 percent of the vote to Brown’s 46 percent, with 95 percent of precincts reporting.
Her race with Brown was one of the most expensive Senate races in the nation, with more than $70 million spent in combined campaigning between the two candidates.
With her victory, Warren becomes the first woman to be elected as a senator from Massachusetts.
Warren is known for her work with the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, as well as her legal work in bankruptcy law and helping consumers.
Coming from humble origins in Oklahoma, Warren quickly worked her way up.
She began teaching at Penn in 1987. At Penn Law, she was widely respected by her colleagues. During her time at the University, the Law School was trying to re-establish its reputation nationally, and Warren played a significant role during this transition period.
Warren was also known to be a standout teacher, winning the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1994.
Later on, Warren’s continual improvement and academic distinctions took her to Harvard Law School, where she has taught since 1995.
“For every family that has been chipped and squeezed and hammered, we’re going to fight for a level playing field and we’re going to put people back to work,” Warren said in a victory speech Tuesday night. “To everyone who shared your hopes and dreams … I will never forget. I will always carry your stories with me in my heart. I won’t just be your senator, I will be your champion.”
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