John was born in Seneca, South Carolina and raised in Robbins, North Carolina.  John’s father worked in the textile mills for 36 years, and from his mother ran a shop and worked at the post office.

A proud product of public schools, John became the first person in his family to attend college. He graduated with high honors in 1974 from North Carolina State University and earned a law degree with honors in 1977 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

John dedicated his career to representing families and children against the powerful insurance industry and their armies of lawyers.

In 1998, He ran for the Senate and won, defeating an incumbent Senator. In Congress, Senator Edwards quickly emerged as a champion for the issues that make a difference to American families: quality health care, better schools, protecting civil liberties, preserving the environment, saving Social Security and Medicare, and reforming the ways campaigns are financed.

As a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator Edwards worked tirelessly for a strong national defense and to strengthen the security of our homeland.

Senator Edwards brought a positive message of change to the 2004 presidential primaries. During the primary season he spoke about the two Americas that exist in our country today: one for people at the top who have everything they need and one for everybody else who struggle to get by.

John and Elizabeth Edwards live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with their children, Emma Claire Edwards, age 9, and Jack Edwards, age 6. Their eldest daughter, Cate, currently attends Harvard Law School. Between attending Jack and Emma Claire's soccer games, going to school functions and all of the work they do, the Edwards family stays pretty busy!