- Née:
- Cynthia Jeanne Bowers
- Born:
- January 28, 1947, St. Charles, Missouri, U.S. (age 79)
- Title / Office:
- United States Senate (2009-), United States
- governor (1997-2003), New Hampshire
- Political Affiliation:
- Democratic Party
Jeanne Shaheen
-
Who is Jeanne Shaheen?
Jeanne Shaheen, born on January 28, 1947, is an American politician. In 2008, she was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate, representing New Hampshire beginning the following year. Shaheen is the first woman to serve as governor of the state (1997–2003).
She became active in politics, and in 1976 she worked on Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign. Four years later, she became Carter’s campaign manager in the state. In 1990, she successfully ran for a seat in the state Senate, serving until 1996, when she was elected governor.
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What state does Jeanne Shaheen represent in the U.S. Senate?
Jeanne Shaheen represents New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate. She was elected to the Senate in 2008 and began representing New Hampshire in 2009. Before her time in the Senate, Shaheen made history as the first woman to serve as governor of New Hampshire from 1997 to 2003.
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When did Jeanne Shaheen first become a United States senator?
Jeanne Shaheen was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008 and began representing New Hampshire in 2009. Before her time in the Senate, Shaheen made history as the first woman to serve as governor of New Hampshire, holding the position from 1997 to 2003. After leaving the governorship, she ran for the U.S. Senate but was defeated. Later, she served as the national chair of John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign and as director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Shaheen successfully defended her Senate seat in 2014.
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What political party does Jeanne Shaheen belong to?
Jeanne Shaheen is a member of the Democratic Party. She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008 to represent New Hampshire. New Hampshire has two senators, both of whom are Democrats: Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan. Shaheen's current term in the Senate ends in 2027.
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What major issues has Jeanne Shaheen worked on during her time in the Senate?
During her time in the Senate, Jeanne Shaheen has focused on several key issues. She has been a champion of rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons, reversing her previous opposition to same-sex marriage. Shaheen has also supported important legislation such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Additionally, she has been involved in veterans affairs and has worked to reduce the burden of federal loans on college students. As governor, she supported increased spending on education.
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What other important political position did Jeanne Shaheen hold before becoming a senator?
Before becoming a U.S. Senator for New Hampshire in 2008, Jeanne Shaheen held several significant political positions. She served in the New Hampshire State Senate from 1990 to 1996. Subsequently, she was elected as the governor of New Hampshire, holding that position from 1997 to 2003, becoming the first woman in the state's history to do so.
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Jeanne Shaheen (born January 28, 1947, St. Charles, Missouri, U.S.) is an American politician who was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 2008 and began representing New Hampshire the following year. She was the first woman to serve as governor of the state (1997–2003).
Shaheen grew up in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, where her father managed a shoe factory and her mother worked as a church secretary. In 1969 she earned a bachelor’s degree at Shippensburg State College (now Shippensburg University) in Pennsylvania. She then attended the University of Mississippi, and while a student there she taught high school. In 1972 she married Bill Shaheen, and the couple later had three children. After receiving a master’s degree in 1973, she moved to New Hampshire, where she started a jewelry business with her husband and continued to teach.
Shaheen became active in politics, and in 1976 she worked on Democrat Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign. Four years later she was Carter’s campaign manager in the state. In 1990 she successfully ran for a seat in the state Senate, serving until 1996, when she was elected governor. When she took office in 1997, Shaheen became the first woman in New Hampshire history to hold that post. She was reelected in 1998 and 2000.
After leaving the governorship in 2003, Shaheen ran for the U.S. Senate but was defeated by John E. Sununu. She then served as national chair of John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign. In 2005 she became director of the Institute of Politics in the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University. Shaheen held the post until 2007, when she launched another bid for the Senate. In the 2008 general election she defeated Sununu, and she took office the following year. Shaheen successfully defended her seat in 2014 against former Massachusetts senator Scott Brown, who had moved to New Hampshire to challenge her.
Shaheen was widely considered a moderate Democrat who was pragmatic and willing to reevaluate her position on various issues. As governor, she twice ran on a promise not to raise taxes, but she abandoned that stance in her second reelection effort on the grounds that it would be fiscally imprudent; in her third term she supported the introduction of a statewide sales tax to improve the state’s financial position and advocated increased spending on education. In a similar vein, she reversed her opposition to same-sex marriage after entering the Senate, where she championed rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. She also supported such key pieces of legislation as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In addition, Shaheen was involved in veterans affairs, and she sought to lessen the burden of college students holding federal loans.