Winnie Brinks | |
|---|---|
| Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Shirkey |
| Member of the Michigan Senate from the 29th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Dave Hildenbrand |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 76th district | |
| In office January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Roy Schmidt |
| Succeeded by | Rachel Hood |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Winnie De Vries[1] February 17, 1968 Mount Vernon, Washington, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Steve Brinks (m. 1992) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Calvin College (BA) |
| Website | Official website |
Winnie Brinks (born February 17, 1968)[3] is an American politician who has served as a member of the Michigan Senate since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Brinks assumed office as Majority Leader of the Senate on January 1, 2023; she is the first woman to ever hold the office, and the first Democrat to do so since William Faust left office in 1984. Brinks previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2013 to 2018, worked as an executive at a non-profit before seeking office.[4] In the House, she served on the Workforce and Talent Development, Education, Health Policy, and Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committees.[3] She also serves as chair of the Progressive Women's Caucus, a non-profit organization that addresses concerns about women's health, pay equity, economic security and gender violence.[5]