A New Jersey native, Stephanie Schmid is a retired United States Foreign Service Officer, attorney, and human rights leader with a record of serving her community, protecting those most vulnerable, and solving difficult public policy problems. Stephanie is running to bring new leadership to Congress at a time when we need our representatives to solve pressing challenges and create better opportunities for the people of New Jersey.
Growing up in Bergen County, Stephanie learned the value of hard work and the importance of service to her community from her parents and at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church. She taught Sunday school, volunteered at Ridgewood Hospital, played soccer, softball, and tennis, acted in the New Players Theater Company, and sold makeup after school at Garden Botanika.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from Yale University and her law degree from the University of California at Berkeley School of Law. Stephanie spent six years working as a federal litigation attorney and in private practice.
In 2011, Stephanie answered the call to serve her country and was commissioned as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer. She spent seven years working in embassies around the world: strengthening democratic institutions, political parties, and electoral systems in Haiti; assisting U.S. citizens in Brazil; and protecting and promoting international human rights while based in Washington, D.C.
Stephanie left the State Department in 2018 to lead the U.S. Foreign Policy Program at the Center for Reproductive Rights. She developed legislation protecting reproductive rights globally which has more than 180 co-sponsors in Congress; sued the State Department for failure to report on violations of women’s and LGBTQ human rights; and worked with a coalition of nonprofit leaders to advocate against the harmful global gag rule.
Throughout her career, Stephanie has proudly served with Republican and Democratic leaders who have always put country before party. As Stephanie has seen democratic institutions be undermined here at home, she feels called to once again serve her country and community in a new way.
Stephanie is running for Congress to bring her experience and unique perspective as a U.S. diplomat and human rights advocate and attorney to work for all of us in Washington. The 4th Congressional District deserves a new leader willing to stand up and fight for our families, our values, and our community – and that leader is Stephanie Schmid.
Stephanie owns a home in Little Silver where she is an active volunteer in local democratic groups. When she’s not out criss-crossing Monmouth, Mercer, and Ocean counties, Stephanie loves spending time at the Shore, playing tennis, taking photographs, and cooking for family and friends.