Women in the United States Congress:1917-2008



Introduction
Two hundred forty-six women have been elected or appointed to the U.S. Congress.1 Jeanette Rankin (R-MT) has the distinction of being the first woman elected to serve in Congress. On November 9, 1916, she was elected to the House of Representatives as Montana’s Representative-at-Large to the 65th Congress (1917- 1919).2

A record 91 women serve in the 110th Congress; 75 in the House (55 Democrats and 20 Republicans), and 16 in the Senate (11 Democrats and 5 Republicans).3 Of the 246 women who have served in Congress, 158 have been Democrats, and 88 have been Republicans. In addition, 211 (136 Democrats, 75 Republicans) have served only in the House of Representatives; 28 (17 Democrats, 11 Republicans) have served only in the Senate; and 7 (5 Democrats, 2 Republicans) have served in both houses.4


Edith Nourse Rogers (R-MA) holds the record for length of service by a woman in Congress (35 years). She was elected to the House to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husband, John Jacob Rogers (R-MA, 1913-1925). Mrs. Rogers served from June 25, 1925, until her death on September 10, 1960. Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME) holds the record for length of Senate service by a woman (24 years). She was also first elected to the House to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husband. She succeeded Clyde H. Smith (R-ME, 1937-1940) and was subsequently elected to the Senate. Her House service ran from June 10, 1940, until January 3, 1949. Her Senate service ran from January 3, 1949, until January 3, 1973.

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5 This number includes current Members: Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), first elected to the 104th Congress in 1996; Reps. Lois Capps (D-CA) and Mary Bono (R-CA ), both first elected to the 105th Congress in 1998; and Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA), first elected to the 109th Congress in 2005.

6 Rep. Enid Greene (R-UT, 1995-1997) defeated Rep. Karen Shepherd (D-UT, 1993-1995); Rep. Linda Smith (R-WA, 1995-1999) defeated Rep. Jolene Unsoeld (D-WA, 1989-1995); Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI, 1997-present ) defeated Rep. Barbara-Rose Collins (D-MI, 1991-1997); Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO, 1997-present) succeeded Rep. Patricia Schroeder (D-CO, 1973-1997); Rep. Denise Majette (D-GA, 2003-2005) defeated Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA, 1993-2003); Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL, 2003-present ) defeated Rep. Karen Thurman (D-FL, 1993-2003); Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA, 1993- 2003, 2005-2007) was elected to the seat vacated by Rep. Majette, who had defeated her two years earlier; and Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA, 2007-present) succeeded Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA, 1996-2007), who died in office.


Women Representatives

Of the 218 women who have served in the House, 38 were elected to fill vacancies caused by the death of their husbands.5 Sixteen of the 38 were subsequently elected to additional terms. Twenty-five women have been elected to fill other vacancies caused by death or resignation. One of these, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA, 1987-present), was first elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of another woman, Sala Burton (D-CA, 1983-1987). Eight additional women have directly succeeded other women by defeating them or being elected to open seats.6

Women Senators
Rebecca Latimer Felton (D-GA) was the first woman to serve in the Senate. She was appointed in 1922 to fill the unexpired term of a Senator who had died in office. In addition to being the first female Senator, Mrs. Felton holds two other Senate records. Her tenure in the Senate remains the shortest ever (one day), and, at the age of 87, she is the oldest person ever to begin Senate service. Besides Mrs. Felton, 34 other women, including 16 in the 110th Congress, have served in the Senate. Of these 35 women, 13 were initially appointed to the Senate, including Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who was appointed to the 108th Congress by her father, Frank Murkowski (R-AK, 1981-2003), to succeed him after he was elected governor of Alaska. She was subsequently elected to her own six-year term in 2004. Five, including current Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), were first elected to fill unexpired terms. Two of the women were first elected and seven were first appointed to fill vacancies caused by the death of their husbands, including Jean Carnahan (D-MO, 2001-2004), who was appointed to the CRS-3

7 Two of the nine female Senators, first elected or appointed to succeed their husbands, were subsequently elected to additional terms. 107th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by her husband’s posthumous election to the Senate.7

Two women were appointed to the Senate by their husbands to fill vacancies. Senator Dixie Bibb Graves (D-AL, 1937-1938) was appointed in 1937 by her husband, then-Governor David Bibb Graves, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Hugo Black (D-AL, 1927-1937), who was appointed to the Supreme Court. Senator Elaine Edwards (D-LA, 1972) was appointed by her husband, then-Governor Edwin Edwards, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Allen Ellender (D-LA, 1937-1972).

Eva Bowring (R-NE, 1954), who had been appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Dwight Griswold (R-NE, 1952-1954), was succeeded by another woman, Hazel Abel (R-NE, 1954), who was elected to fill the remaining months of Senator Griswold’s term.

Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R-KS, 1979-1997) was the first of the 10 women elected to the Senate without first having been elected to the House or having been elected or appointed to fill an unexpired Senate term. The others are Susan Collins (R-ME ), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Claire McCaskill (D-MO), all Members of the 110th Congress, as well as Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL, 1993-1999) and Paula Hawkins (R-FL, 1981-1987).

Hattie Caraway (D-AR, 1931-1945) was not only the first woman to succeed her spouse in the Senate but also the first of the 20 women initially elected to a full sixyear Senate term. She was first appointed in 1931 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husband, Thaddeus H. Caraway (D-AR, House, 1913-1921; Senate, 1921-1931), and then was subsequently elected to two six-year terms. The other women first elected to six-year terms are Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX ), Susan Collins (RME), Patty Murray (D-WA), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D-AR), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Claire McCaskill, (D-MO), all Members of the 110th Congress, as well as Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME, 1949-1973), Maurine Neuberger (D-OR, 1960- 1967), Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R-KS, 1978-1997), Paula Hawkins (R-FL, 1981- 1987), and Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL, 1993-1999).

Four states (California, Kansas, Maine, and Washington) have been represented by two women Senators serving in the same Congress. In the 110th Congress, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein represent California, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe represent Maine, and Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell represent Washington. CRS-4


8 Sen. Frahm was appointed in 1996 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Sen. Robert Dole (R-KS, 1969-1996), and served for five months.
9 More detailed information on the leadership positions held by women in Congress can be found in the individual entries contained in this report. 10 Office of History and Preservation, Women in Congress, 1917-2006, pp. 992-993. In the 104th Congress, Nancy Landon Kassebaum and Sheila Frahm represented Kansas.8

Women Who Have Served In Both Houses
Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME) was the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress, as well as the first woman elected to the Senate without first having been elected or appointed to fill a vacant Senate seat. Senator Smith was first elected to the House to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husband (Clyde Smith, RME, 1937-1940), and served from June 10, 1940, until January 3, 1949, when she began her Senate service. When Senator Smith left the Senate on January 3, 1973, she had served there longer than any other woman. Her 24 years of service is still a record for Senate service by a woman.

Barbara Mikulski, Barbara Boxer, Olympia Snowe, Blanche Lambert Lincoln, Debbie Stabenow, and Maria Cantwell are the other women who have served in both houses. Senator Mikulski was a Member of the House from 1977-1987, Senator Boxer from 1983-1993, Senator Snowe from 1979-1995, Senator Lincoln from 1993- 1997, Senator Stabenow from 1997-2001, and Senator Cantwell from 1993-1995. All are Members of the 110th Congress, and all but Senators Lincoln and Cantwell were elected while still serving in the House.

Women in Leadership Positions9
A significant number of women in Congress have held positions of leadership.10 However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) holds the highest position of leadership ever held by a woman in the U.S. government. Prior to becoming Speaker in the 110th Congress, Representative Pelosi was elected House Democratic whip, in the 107th Congress, on October 10, 2001, effective January 15, 2002. In the 108th and 109th Congresses, she was elected the House Democratic leader, at that time the highest position ever held by a woman in the House. She was also the first woman nominated to be Speaker of the House. Senator Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME), as chair of the Senate Republican Conference from 1967 to 1972, holds the Senate record for the highest leadership position held by a woman Senator. In the 110th Congress, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) is the secretary of the Senate Democratic Conference, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) is the chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, and Representative Kay Granger (R-TX) is vice chair of the House Republican Conference. In the 107th-109th Congresses, Senator Hutchison was vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference. In the 108th CRS-5

11 As chair of the Senate Enrolled Bills Committee (73rd-78th Congresses), Sen. Hattie Caraway was the first woman to chair a Senate as well as any congressional committee. As chair of the House District of Columbia Committee (72nd-74th Congresses), Rep. Mary T. Norton was the first woman to chair a House committee. 12 Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA, 1996-2007) died on April 22, 2007, and was replaced by Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA, 2007-present); Rep. Julia Carson (D-IN, 1997- 2007) died on Dec. 15, 2007, and was replaced by her grandson, Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN, (continued...)

and 109th Congresses, Representative Deborah Pryce (R-OH) was chair of the House Republican Conference. In the 109th Congress, Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) was the chair of the Republican Senatorial Committee, and Senator Barbara Boxer (DCA) was chief deputy Democratic whip.

Twenty women have chaired congressional committees, including a record six in the 110th Congress. A record of four female Representatives were selected to chair House committees. They were Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), chair of the Committee on House Administration; Louise Slaughter (D-NY), chair of the Committee on Rules; Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), chair of the Committee on Small Business; and Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), chair of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. However, Representative Millender-McDonald died during the first session of the 110th Congress on April 22, 2007.

In the Senate in the 110th Congress, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) chairs the Committee on the Environment and Public Works, and Senator Dianne Feinstein (DCA) chairs the Committee on Rules and Administration. This is the second time that two women from the same state have chaired Senate committees. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) chaired the Committee on Governmental Affairs in the 108th Congress, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in the 109th Congress. In the 108th and 109th Congresses, Senator Olympia Snowe chaired the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

The most recent record for committee chairs was in the the 104th Congress when three women chaired standing committees. They were Nancy Landon Kassebaum, chair of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee; Jan Meyers (R-KS, 1985-1997), chair of the House Small Business Committee; and Nancy Johnson (RCT, 1983-2007), chair of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. Others who have chaired committees are Senator Hattie Caraway (D-AR, 1931-1945) and Representatives Edith Nourse Rogers (R-MA, 1925-1960), Mae Ella Nolan (RCA, 1923-1925), Mary T. Norton (D-NJ, 1925-1951), Caroline L. O’Day (D-NY, 1935-1943), Leonor K. Sullivan (D-MO, 1953-1977), Martha W. Griffiths (D-MI, 1955-1974), Yvonne Brathwaite Burke (D-CA, 1973-1979), and Patricia Schroeder (D-CO, 1973-1997).11


African American Women in Congress A record number of 16 African American women were elected to the House in the 110th Congress, although 14 is the highest number to serve at any one time.12 A CRS-6

12 (...continued) 2008-present) on Mar. 13, 2008; and Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) replaced Rep. Albert Wynn (D-MD) on June 19, 2008. 13 Rep. Matsui was first elected to the 109th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husband, Rep. Robert Matsui (D-CA, 1979-2005). record 15 African American women served in the House in the 107th Congress; and 13 served in the 108th Congress. A total of 27 African American women have served in Congress. The first was Representative Shirley Chisholm (D-NY, 1969-1983). Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL, 1993-1999) is the only black woman to have served in the Senate. The African American women Members of the 110th Congress are Representatives Maxine Waters (D-CA), Corinne Brown (D-FL), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI), Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Diane Watson (D-CA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Laura Richardson (D-CA, 2007-present), and Donna Edwards (D-MD), as well as Delegates Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Donna Christian-Christensen (D-VI). Other black women Members were Cardiss Collins (D-IL, 1973-1997), Barbara-Rose Collins (D-MI, 1991-1997), Eva Clayton (D-NC, 1992-2003), Carrie Meek (D-FL, 1993-2003), Cynthia McKinney (D-GA, 1993-2003, 2005-2007), Denise Majette (D-GA, 2003-2005), Yvonne Brathwaite Burke (D-CA, 1973-1979), Katie Hall (D-IN, 1982-1985), Barbara Jordan (D-TX, 1973-1979), Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA, 1996-2007), and Julia Carson (DIN, 1997-2007).

Asian American Women in Congress
Patsy Mink (D-HI) was the first of four Asian Pacific American women to have served in Congress, all in the House. Representative Mink served in the House from 1965-1977, and from 1990-2002. The other Asian Pacific American women are Representatives Doris O. Matsui (D-CA) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Members of the 110th Congress, and Patricia Saiki (R-HI), who served from 1987-1991.13 Hispanic Women in Congress