Early Life, Education, and Early Political Career
Baldwin was born and grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, the daughter of Pamela (née Green) and Joseph Edward Baldwin. She was raised by her mother and her maternal grandparents. Her maternal grandfather was Jewish (the son of immigrants from Russia and Germany), and her maternal grandmother, who was Anglican, was English-born. Baldwin is a third cousin of actor and comedian Andy Samberg (their maternal grandfathers were first cousins). Baldwin graduated from Madison West High School in 1980 as the class valedictorian. She earned a B.A. degree from Smith College in 1984 and a J.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1989. She practiced law between 1989-1992.
Baldwin was first elected to political office in 1986 when she was elected to the Dane County Board of Supervisors, a position that she held until 1994. She also served for one year on the Madison City Council to fill a vacancy in the coterminous district.
For fifteen years, her domestic partner was Lauren Azar, until the couple separated in 2010. In 2009, the couple had registered as domestic partners in Wisconsin.
Read more about this topic: Tammy Baldwin
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