While the 2000 election brought a record number of women to Congress, the 2002 election saw little change in the number of women serving in Congress. During the 107th Congress, there were 60 women Representatives and 2 Delegates for a total of 62 women. Seven new women Representatives were elected to the House, bringing the total number of women Representatives to 59. A new woman Delegate from Guam was elected, bringing the number of women Delegates to three and the total number of women serving in the 108th Congress to 62. Three women retired—Reps. Eva Clayton (D-NC), Carrie Meek (D-FL), and Marge Roukema (R-NJ). Four incumbents were defeated. Reps. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) and Lynn Rivers (D-MI) lost in their primaries, while Reps. Connie Morella (R-MD) and Karen Thurman (D-FL) lost in the general election.
Although Rep. Patsy Mink (D-HI) passed away prior to the election, her named remained on the ballot. A special election will be held on November 30 to fill her seat for the remainder of her term.
On the Senate side, Sen. Jean Carnahan (D-MO) was defeated in her re-election bid. However, Sen.-elect Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) was elected to fill a vacant seat, leaving the number of women serving in the Senate at 13.
Women in Governorships
Gov.-elect Jennifer Granholm (D-MI) was elected to fill the seat left open by term-limited Republican Governor John Engler to become the first woman Governor of Michigan. She had served as the Michigan Attorney General since 1999. She is expected to focus on education and health care.
Gov.-elect Linda Lingle (R-HI) was elected to fill the seat left open by retiring Democratic Governor Benjamin J. Cayetano. Gov.-elect Lingle, the first woman elected Governor of Hawaii, was the former mayor of Maui. Her priorities include improving public education and health care.
Gov.-elect Janet Napolitano (D-AZ) was elected to fill the seat left open by retiring Republican Governor Jane Hull. As Arizona’s Attorney General, Gov.-elect Napolitano created the first Office for Women in that office and implemented the first statewide Domestic Abuse Public Awareness Campaign. She is expected to focus on economic development, children, and the environment.
Gov.-elect Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS) was elected to fill the seat left open by term-limited Republican Governor Bill Graves. Prior to her current position as the state insurance commissioner, Gov.-elect Sebelius served in the Kansas legislature from 1987-1994. During that time, she helped create the Committee on Children and Families. She is expected to focus on education, crime reduction, and strengthening the economy.
New Woman Elected to the Senate
Sen.-elect Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) was elected to fill the seat left open by the retiring Republican Sen. Jesse Helms. Sen.-elect Dole was the first woman to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation in the Reagan Administration, and she also served as Secretary of Labor in the first Bush Administration. She left her position as President of the Red Cross to run for President in 2000. She is expected to focus on education, tax relief, and strengthening national defense.
Women Incumbents
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) successfully defended her seat in the 2002 election.
While Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) was the leading candidate with 46 percent of the vote, Louisiana law requires that if a candidate does not receive 50 percent of the votes, then a run-off election will take place between the two candidates with the most votes. Sen. Landrieu will face Suzanne Terrell (R-LA) in a run-off election on December 7th.
Women Newly Elected to the House
Rep.-elect Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) defeated Democrat Tim Barron in a contest for the seat vacated by Rep. Ed Bryant (R-TN). She has served in the Tennessee State Senate since 1998 when she became the first woman to represent Tennessee’s 23rd district. From 1995 to 1997, she served as Executive Director of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment, and Music Commission. As a state senator, she worked on expanding quality, affordable child care.
Del.-elect Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU) defeated Republican Joseph Ada in a contest for the seat vacated by Del. Robert Underwood (D-GU). She is the first woman to serve as Delegate to Guam. She has served as Lieutenant Governor of Guam since 1995, the first woman ever to hold that post. She also was the first woman elected to the Guam Senate, where she was appointed chair of the Committee on Education. Some of her priorities are expected to be affordable housing, health care, and education.
Rep.-elect Virginia Brown-Waite (R-FL) defeated incumbent Karen Thurman (D-FL) in a close race. She has served in the Florida State Senate for 18 years, where she was named Majority Whip in 1999 and elected President Pro Tempore in 2000. As a state senator, she sponsored legislation pertaining to welfare reform, HMO reform, and patients’ rights.
Rep.-elect Katherine Harris (R-FL) defeated Democrat Jan Schneider in a contest for the seat left open by the retirement of Rep. Dan Miller (R-FL). Since 1998, she has served as Florida Secretary of State, where she presided over the disputed vote count in the 2000 Presidential election. She has indicated that her top priorities in Congress will be to improve education and protect the environment.
Rep.-elect Denise Majette (D-GA) defeated incumbent Democrat Rep. Cynthia McKinney in the primary. She defeated Republican Cynthia Van Auken in the general election. She has served as DeKalb County State Court judge since 1993. Earlier, she served as administrative law judge for the Atlanta office of the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. She is expected to focus on issues related to education, health care, and affirmative action.
Rep.-elect Candice Miller (R-MI) defeated Democrat Carl Marlinger in the newly drawn 10th district, which includes the area represented by Rep. David Bonior (D-MI) who vacated his seat to run for governor. She has served as Michigan Secretary of State since 1994. Earlier, she was elected Harrison Township Supervisor, becoming the youngest supervisor and the first woman ever elected to that post. She is expected to focus on tax issues, Social Security reform, and drug benefits for seniors.
Rep.-elect Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) defeated Democrat Stan Matsunaka in a contest for the seat left open by the retirement of Rep. Bob Schaffer (R-CO). She has served in the Colorado State Senate since 1998. Prior to that, she served two terms in the State House, and began her public service career as a local school board member. As a state legislator, she worked on legislation pertaining to tax cuts and the elimination of the marriage penalty tax.
Rep.-elect Linda Sanchez (D-CA) defeated Republican Tim Escobar in the newly created 39th district. She currently serves as Executive Secretary-Treasurer for the Orange County Central Labor Council. Earlier, she practiced civil rights and employment law and worked as a compliance officer for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 441. In her work as a California labor leader, she has focused on quality jobs for workers, fair wages, and affordable health care. She and her sister, Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), are the first sisters to serve together in Congress.
