20 Most Powerful Female Politicians in the US

Female politicians and celebrities often get mixed up. That’s because the two professions are intertwined with each other in many ways. Politicians become celebrities once they’re famous enough, and celebrities often start politicking to get themselves into more powerful positions. To celebrate female politicians that we like (and some that we don’t), we’ve compiled a list of the 20 hottest and powerful women in US politics right now – from governors to members of Congress, mayors, and state representatives.

1. Kamala Harris

Kamala Devi Harris	Information
Full Name	Kamala Devi Harris
Date of Birth	October 20, 1964
Place of Birth	Oakland, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer, author
Position	The 49th and current vice president of the United States
President	Joe Biden
Political party	Democratic
Education	Howard University (BA) University of California, Hastings (JD)
Spouse	Doug Emhoff ​(m. 2014)

Kamala Harris is a prominent figure in the world of politics, known for her trailblazing achievements. She holds the distinction of being the first female Vice President of the United States, breaking barriers as the highest-ranking woman in U.S. history. Prior to her Vice Presidency, Kamala Harris served as a U.S. Senator from California and as the Attorney General of California. Her dedication to public service and commitment to justice have been a hallmark of her career.

Kamala Harris continues to inspire many with her leadership and advocacy for important issues, making a significant impact on the political landscape. Her historic achievements represent progress and a testament to the power of determination and hard work.

2. Hillary Cliton

Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton	Information
Full Name	Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton
Birthdate	October 26, 1947
Birthplace	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	Politician, diplomat, author, lawyer, professor
Position	the 67th United States Secretary of State under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013
Political Party	Democratic (1968–present)
Other political affiliations	Republican (1965–1968)
Spouse	Bill Clinton (m. 1975)

Hillary Clinton is a prominent American politician and public figure. She was born on October 26, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. Clinton has had a long and distinguished career in politics, serving as the First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001 when her husband, Bill Clinton, was President. She later became a U.S. Senator from New York from 2001 to 2009.

In 2008, Clinton sought the Democratic Party’s nomination for President but was not successful, losing to Barack Obama. However, she remained active in politics and, in 2009, became the Secretary of State under President Obama, serving until 2013.

In 2016, Hillary Clinton made history by becoming the first woman to be nominated as the presidential candidate of a major U.S. political party. She ran as the Democratic nominee in the 2016 presidential election but was ultimately defeated by Donald Trump.

Throughout her career, Hillary Clinton has been a vocal advocate for various social and political issues, including healthcare reform, women’s rights, and international diplomacy. She has been both praised and criticized for her positions and actions, and her political career has had a significant impact on American politics.

3. Huma Mahmood Abedin

Huma Mahmood Abedin	Information
Full Name	Huma Mahmood Abedin
Date of Birth	July 28, 1975
Place of Birth	Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Indian and Pakistani
Occupation	Political Staffer
Political Affiliation	Democratic Party
Education	George Washington University (BA in Journalism with a minor in Political Science)
Notable Roles	Vice Chair of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign
Marital Status	Separated from Anthony Weiner (married in 2010)
Children	1
Published Work	Memoir titled “Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds” (November 2021)
Key Contributions	Played significant roles in Clinton’s presidential campaigns and political endeavors
Controversies	Subject to public scrutiny due to her marriage to Anthony Weiner
Additional Information	Worked as director of Clinton’s transition team after leaving the State Department
Latest Work	Memoir explores personal journey, Muslim faith, and professional experiences

Huma Mahmood Abedin (born July 28, 1975) is an American political adviser who worked on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. Abedin was Clinton’s deputy chief of staff from 2009 to 2013, when Clinton was Secretary of State of the United States. She was also Clinton’s traveling chief of staff and assistant when she ran for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States in 2008.

Abedin began working as an intern at the White House in 1996 while still a student at George Washington University when assigned to then-First Lady Hillary Clinton. She worked as an associate editor for the Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs from 1996 until 2008. For numerous years, she was Clinton’s personal aide’s backup. During Clinton’s victorious 2000 U.S. Senate race in New York, she formally took over as Clinton’s aide and personal advisor. She later served as Clinton’s traveling chief of staff and “body lady” during her failed 2008 Democratic presidential campaign. According to multiple Clinton colleagues, Abedin is a trusted counselor to Clinton, especially in the Middle East, where she has become renowned for her knowledge.

4. Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama	Information
Full Name	Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama
Date of Birth	January 17, 1964
Birthplace	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Nationality	American
Profession	Attorney, Author
Political Affiliation	Democratic Party
Spouse	Barack Obama (married in 1992)
Children	Two daughters: Malia and Sasha

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (born January 17, 1964) was the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She is an American attorney and novelist. She was the first African-American woman to hold this post in the United States.

She is the former First Lady of the United States and the wife of former President Barack Obama. Following law school, Obama worked as an associate at the law firm Sidley & Austin in Chicago, where she met her future husband, Barack Obama. She worked on marketing and intellectual property law at the firm. She still retains her legal license, but she has maintained it on a voluntary inactive status since 1993 because she no longer requires it for her job.

She worked as an Assistant to the Mayor and as an Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development in the Chicago municipal administration in 1991. She then became the Executive Director of Public Allies’ Chicago office in 1993, a non-profit organization that encourages young people to work on social issues in nonprofit organizations and government institutions. She spent over four years there, setting fundraising records for the organization that was still in place twelve years later. Obama subsequently remarked that before working “to develop Public Allies,” she had never been happier in her life.

5. Gretchen Whitmer

Gretchen Esther Whitmer (born August 23, 1971) is an American lawyer and politician who has been serving as Michigan’s 49th governor since 2019. She served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006 and in the Michigan Senate from 2006 to 2015. She is a Democrat.

Gretchen Whitmer	Information
Full Name	Gretchen Esther Whitmer
Date of Birth	August 23, 1971
Age	51
Birthplace	Lansing, Michigan, U.S.
Political Party	Democratic
Current Position	49th Governor of Michigan
Assumed Office	January 1, 2019
Education	– Forest Hills Central High School – Michigan State University (BA) – Michigan State University College of Law (JD)
Spouse	– Gary Shrewsbury (divorced) – Marc Mallory (m. 2011)
Children	2
Residence	Governor’s Mansion
Notable Achievements	– Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee – Elected Governor of Michigan in 2018 and reelected in 2022 – Advocacy for healthcare and infrastructure legislation – Keynote speaker for the Democratic response to the 2020 State of the Union Address – Victim advocate and promoter of women’s healthcare – Thwarting of a kidnapping plot against her by a militia group in 2020 – First female Democratic leader of the Michigan Senate from 2011 to 2015

Whitmer grew up in the state of Michigan. She attended Forest Hills Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan State University, and the College of Law at Michigan State University. She campaigned for the statehouse unsuccessfully in the 1990s before being elected in 2000. She was elected to the state legislature in 2006 and served until term restrictions forced her to resign in 2015. From 2011 until 2015, she served as the Senate’s first female Democratic leader. 

6. Tulsi Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard	Information
Name	Tulsi Gabbard
Birthdate	April 12, 1981
Birthplace	Leloaloa, Maʻopūtasi County, American Samoa
Political Party	Independent
Education	Leeward Community College, Hawaii Pacific University (BS)
Religion	Hindu
Spouse(s)	Eduardo Tamayo (m. 2002; div. 2006), Abraham Williams (m. 2015)
Parents	Carol (née Porter) Gabbard (Mother), Mike Gabbard (Father)
Ancestry	European and Samoan
Military Service	United States Army Reserve, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command
Congressional District	Hawaii’s 2nd district
Years of Service	2013 – 2021
Notable Achievements	First Hindu member of Congress, First Samoan-American voting member of Congress
Presidential Campaign	Candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 United States presidential election
Party Affiliation Change	Quit the Democratic Party in October 2022 without joining any other party
Current Party Affiliation	Unaffiliated with any party
Current Role	Political commentator, Fox News contributor
Recent Stance on Issues	More conservative positions on abortion, transgender rights, and border security
Endorsements	Endorsed and campaigned for Republican candidates in the 2022 midterm elections

She was the United States Representative representing Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2021. She is an American former politician and United States Army Reserve officer. She was the first Hindu member of Congress and the first Samoan-American voting member of Congress when elected in 2012. She launched her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 2020 United States presidential election in early February 2019.

Gabbard was elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives at 21 in 2002. Gabbard was in the field medical unit of the Hawaii Army National Guard in Iraq from 2004 to 2005. From 2008 to 2009, she was the leader of an Army Military Police battalion in Kuwait. She was the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2013 until 2016, when she quit to back Senator Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination for president.

7. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez	Information
Full Name	Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Nickname	AOC
Occupation	American Politician and Activist
Political Party	Democratic Party
Birthdate	October 13, 1989
Birthplace	New York City, U.S.
Congressional District	New York’s 14th
Education	Boston University (B.A.)
Major	International Relations and Economics
Notable Achievements	Youngest woman ever to serve in the United States Congress
Key Policy Positions	Workplace democracy
Family	Father: Sergio Ocasio-Roman
Residence	Bronx, New York City
Additional Information	Interned for U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy on foreign affairs and immigration issues

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a politician and activist in the United States. As a member of the Democratic Party, she has served as the U.S. Representative representing New York’s 14th congressional district since 2019. The district encompasses the eastern Bronx, north-central Queens, and New York City’s Rikers Island.

On June 26, 2018, Ocasio-Cortez won the Democratic primary election for New York’s 14th congressional district, which caught the attention of people all over the country. She beat Democratic Caucus Chair Joe Crowley, who had been in office for 10 terms, in what was mostly seen as the biggest surprise win of the 2018 midterm election primaries. She comfortably defeated Republican Anthony Pappas in the November general election. In the 2020 election, she defeated John Cummings and was re-elected.

8. Ilhan Omar

Ilhan Abdullahi Omar	Information
Full Name	Ilhan Abdullahi Omar
Occupation	Politician
Political Party	Democratic Party
Birthdate	October 4, 1982
Birthplace	Mogadishu, Somalia
Education	North Dakota State University (BA)
Spouses	Ahmed Nur Said Elmi[a] ​ ​(m. 2009; div. 2017)​ Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi[b] ​ ​(m. 2018; div. 2019)​ Tim Mynett ​ ​(m. 2020)
Children	3

Ilhan Omar is a notable and influential figure in the world of politics. She is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Minnesota’s 5th congressional district. Ilhan Omar holds the distinction of being the first Somali-American and one of the first Muslim women to serve in the U.S. Congress. Her story is one of resilience and determination, having fled war-torn Somalia as a child and later becoming a vocal advocate for social justice and progressive causes.

Ilhan Omar’s presence in Congress has brought important perspectives and diversity to the table, sparking meaningful discussions on a wide range of issues. Her dedication to public service and her commitment to representing her constituents have earned her recognition and respect from many. Ilhan Omar’s journey is a testament to the power of representation and the potential for change through determined leadership.

9. Pam Bondi

Pam Bondi	Information
Position Held	37th Florida Attorney General (2011-2019)
Political Party	Republican
First Female Attorney General of Florida	Yes
Date of Birth	November 17, 1965
Age	57
Hometown	Temple Terrace, Florida, U.S.
Education	University of Florida (BA), Stetson University (JD)
Previous Occupation	Prosecutor and Spokeswoman in Hillsborough County
Notable Prosecutions	Dwight Gooden, Martin Anderson’s Death
Achievements	Led the legal challenge against the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
Supporter of	Stricter immigration policies and the death penalty
TV Appearances	Scarborough Country, MSNBC, Fox News
Marriage	Garret Barnes (m. 1990; div. 1992), Scott Fitzgerald (m. 1996; div. 2002)
Controversies	Association with Scientology, Fundraisers
Defense Lawyer	President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial
Supporter of	President Donald Trump
Latest Activity	Supported claims of voter fraud

Pamela Jo Bondi is an American lawyer, lobbyist, and politician. She was born on November 17, 1965. She was the first woman to be elected as the Attorney General of Florida. She was the 37th Attorney General from 2011 to 2019. Bondi worked as an Assistant State Attorney in Hillsborough County, Florida, as a prosecutor and spokesman. Bondi resigned from this job to run for Florida Attorney General. She has been a guest on Scarborough Country with Joe Scarborough and many other MSNBC cable news shows. She has also been a guest host for Fox News.

10. Alejandra Campoverdi

Alejandra Campoverdi	Information
White House Position	White House Deputy Director of Hispanic Media
In Office	2010–2012
President	Barack Obama
Born	September 20, 1979
Birthplace	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education	University of Southern California (BA) Harvard University (MPP)
Professional Background	Health Advocate Former White House Deputy Director of Hispanic Media
Childhood	Raised by a single mother and grandmother who immigrated from Mexico
Education and Achievements	Graduated cum laude from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at USC Obtained a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University
Political Engagement	Worked for Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, focusing on outreach to the Latino community
White House Roles	Special Assistant to the White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy First-ever Deputy Director of Hispanic Media
Career After White House	Joined Univision as Senior Advisor for Innovation and Communications Strategy Served as Managing Editor of #EmergingUS at the Los Angeles Times
Community Involvement	Serves on the boards of Harvard’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy California Community Foundation Harvard Journal of Hispanic Policy UCLA’s Center for Diverse Leadership in Science
Health Advocacy and Personal Journey	Inherited BRCA2 gene mutation, leading to advocacy for awareness and healthcare access Underwent preventive double mastectomy Founder of The Well Woman Coalition Established LATINX & BRCA campaign targeting the Latino community
Film Involvement	Co-produced the film “Inheritance” about the impact of the BRCA gene on breast and ovarian cancer risk
Sponsorship	Sientra Breast Implant Company sponsored the film

Alejandra Campoverdi (born September 20, 1979) is a former White House assistant and advocate for women’s health in the United States. Campoverdi was the first Deputy Director of Hispanic Media at the White House while Barack Obama was in office. 

Following her master’s degree, Campoverdi was hired by then-Senator Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign to work in the Chicago headquarters after working for the Agricultural Worker Health Initiative at The California Endowment. This health-focused foundation helps underserved communities in California get better, more affordable health care. She relied on credit cards to get by, didn’t have health insurance, and lived in subsidized housing. During the campaign, Campoverdi worked hard to reach out to many different groups of voters, especially Latinos.

11. Carey Torrice

Carey Torrice (born Carey Shawn Scarlet Valentine DeJaeghere on February 13, 1986, in Detroit, Michigan) is a Macomb County, Michigan politician. She was dubbed “Hottest Politician in the USA” by TMZ.com in 2007 and “America’s Sexiest Politician” by Inside Edition in 2008.

Carey Torrice	Information
Full Name	Carey Torrice
Date of Birth	February 13, 1977
Place of Birth	Detroit, Michigan
Residence	Macomb County, Michigan
Party Affiliation	Democratic Party
Education	Chippewa Valley High School
Career Highlights	Elected to the Macomb County Board of Commissioners in 2006
Notable Achievements	Advocated for securing medicine for animals and converting the Macomb County Animal Shelter to a no-kill facility
Professional Background	Licensed Private Investigator
Business Ownership	Co-owns Eye Spy Detective Agency with her husband, Mike, in Fraser
Controversies	Involved in an insurance fraud case
Family Background	Uncle, Leo Fenn, managed rock bands such as Suzi Quatro’s The Pleasure Seekers, Alice Cooper, and The Billion Dollar Babies

Torrice was elected to Macomb County’s Board of Commissioners in 2006. In 2008, she was re-elected to a second term. Torrice was the Chairperson of the Public Services Committee and the Veterans Services Committee during her term in office. According to a press release while on the commission, she procured medicine for animals at the Macomb County Animal Shelter and transitioned the shelter to a no-kill facility. In honor of her late father, USMC Sgt. Larry DeJaeghere also pushed to have the Veterans Service millage passed.

12. Judy Chu

Judy Chu	Information
Name	Judy May Chu
Date of Birth	July 7, 1953
Political Party	Democratic
Current Position	U.S. Representative for California’s 28th congressional district
First Chinese American Woman Elected to Congress	Yes
Education	B.A. in Mathematics from UCLA Ph.D. in Psychology from Alliant International University
Teaching Experience	20 years teaching psychology in the Los Angeles Community College District
Notable Achievements	– Repeatedly reelected to Congress – First Chinese American woman elected to Congress – Extensive experience in local and state government
Residence	Monterey Park, California, U.S.
Family	Married to Mike Eng since 1978
Contributions	– Advocacy for abortion rights – Criticizing Turkish involvement in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict – Support for Taiwanese independence
Controversies	– Reprimanded for interfering with an Ethics Committee investigation – Ties to the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) – Arrest during a protest outside the U.S. Capitol
Miscellaneous	– One of three Unitarian Universalists in Congress – Donated to the Chinese American Museum – Advocate for social justice and civil rights

Judy May Chu (born July 7, 1953) is an American politician who has served in the United States Congress since 2013, representing California’s 27th congressional district. She has been a member of Congress since 2009 and was the representative for California’s 32nd congressional district until the lines were changed in 2011. Judy Chu is the first woman of Chinese descent to be elected to Congress in the United States.

13. Joni Ernst

Joni Ernst	Information
Full Name	Joni Kay Ernst (née Culver)
Date of Birth	July 1, 1970
Age	52
Birthplace	Red Oak, Iowa, U.S.
Political Party	Republican
Current Position	United States Senator from Iowa
Assumed Office	January 3, 2015
Previous Positions	Iowa State Senator (2011-2014), Montgomery County Auditor (2004-2011)
Education	Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Iowa State University, Master of Public Administration degree from Columbus State University
Military Service	United States Army Reserve, Iowa Army National Guard
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Years of Service	1992-2015
Notable Commands	1168th Transportation Company, 185th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
Awards	Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal
Family	Divorced (Gail Ernst), 1 child

Joni Kay Ernst (née Culver) is an American politician and former military officer who has served as the junior United States Senator representing Iowa since 2015. She served in the Iowa State Senate as a Republican from 2011 until 2014. From 1993 through 2015, Ernst served in the Iowa Army National Guard, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. At the outset of her 2014 Senate campaign, Ernst was considered a “long shot.” Despite this, he received a lift from the Koch brothers’ backing and an ad that went viral in which she mentioned her expertise in castrating pigs and promised to “reduce pork” in Congress. She has also been seen as a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, and despite her harsh criticism of President Barack Obama, she was thought to be a possible running mate for him in 2016.

14. Elizabeth Halseth

Elizabeth Halseth	Information
Full Name	Elizabeth Nicole Halseth (née Schworak)
Date of Birth	February 5, 1983
Age	40
Political Affiliation	Republican
Career	– Nevada Senate member (November 2010 – February 2012)
Education	North Salem High School (graduated in 2001)
Residency	Las Vegas, Nevada
Notable Achievement	Successfully ran an “unlikely” campaign, defeating opponent Dennis Nolan by highlighting his connection to a rape case
Resignation	Resigned from office on February 17, 2012, citing difficulties in balancing senatorial duties with being a single mother
Legal Incident	Daughter Sierra and her boyfriend Aaron Guerrero were arrested for the murder of Elizabeth Halseth’s ex-husband, Daniel Halseth, in April 2021

Elizabeth Halseth is an American politician, born on February 5, 1983. She served in the Nevada Senate as a Republican from November 2010 until February 2012. Halseth is the youngest woman in Nevada’s history to be elected to the legislature. In 2018, she sought a seat in the Nevada Senate but lost.

Halseth announced her retirement from the Senate on February 17, 2012. She said that it was hard to balance being a senator and a single mother. She also said in her resignation letter that she might look for work outside of Nevada because it was hard for her to find work there. She also quit because she was accused of not going to meetings and not returning phone calls. Daniel Halseth, who was her husband at the time, was eventually charged with three crimes: compulsion, violence, and open and gross lewdness.

15. Kristi Lynn Noem

Kristi Lynn Noem	Information
Name	Kristi Lynn Noem
Position	33rd Governor of South Dakota
Political Party	Republican
Date of Birth	November 30, 1971
Place of Birth	Watertown, South Dakota, U.S.
Spouse	Bryon Noem (married in 1992)
Children	3
Education	South Dakota State University (BA in Political Science)

Kristi Lynn Noem is the 33rd governor of South Dakota, having taken office in 2019. She was a member of the Republican Party and served in the South Dakota House of Representatives for the 6th district from 2007 to 2011. She was the U.S. Representative for South Dakota’s at-large congressional district from 2011 to 2019. Noem was elected governor of South Dakota in 2018, making her the state’s first female governor. 

16. Sandra Kay Fluke

Sandra Kay Fluke	Information
Full Name	Sandra Kay Fluke
Date of Birth	April 17, 1981 (age 42)
Place of Birth	Saxton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Education	Cornell University (BA) Georgetown University (JD)
Occupation	Attorney, women’s rights activist
Political Party	Democratic
Notable Achievements	Came to public attention for advocating insurance coverage for birth control Supported President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012 Featured speaker at the 2012 Democratic National Convention Ran for the California State Senate seat (unsuccessful)
Family	Husband: Adam Mutterperl
Advocacy Work	Co-founded the New York Statewide Coalition for Fair Access to Family Court Advocacy for victims of domestic violence
Legal Career	Juris Doctor degree (cum laude) from Georgetown Law Passed the California bar exam and admitted to practice in 2012
Testimony and Controversy	Testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on contraceptive coverage
Political Engagement	Supported President Obama’s values and visions Introduced President Obama at a campaign rally Spoke at the Democratic Convention

Sandra Kay Fluke is an American lawyer and proponent of women’s rights. Sandra Kay Fluke first gained notoriety when Republican members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee refused to testify on the importance of requiring insurance plans to cover birth control during a debate over whether medical insurance should have a contraception mandate in February 2012. She later talked with Democratic lawmakers.

17. Krysten Lea Sinema

Arizona’s senior United States senator is an American politician, university instructor, former social worker, and lawyer. She spent three terms as a state representative for Arizona’s 15th legislative district from 2005 to 2011, one term as a state senator for the 15th legislative district from 2011 to 2012, and three terms as the United States Representative for Arizona’s 9th district from 2013 to 2019.

Krysten Lea Sinema	Information
Full Name	Kyrsten Lea Sinema
Date of Birth	July 12, 1976
Age	46
Place of Birth	Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
Current Position	Senior United States Senator from Arizona
Political Party	Independent (2022–present)
Previous Political Affiliations	Democratic (2004–2022), Green (before 2004)
Education	Brigham Young University (BA)
Spouse	Blake Dain (m. 1995; div. 1999)
Previous Positions	– Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona’s 9th district (2013–2019)
Notable Achievements	– First openly bisexual woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (2012)
Key Positions and Contributions	– Progressive advocate for LGBT rights
Family Background	– Father: Attorney
Early Life Challenges	– Overcame hardships living in an abandoned gas station
Religious Affiliation	Raised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), currently unaffiliated
Career Highlights	– Worked as a social worker
Notable Campaigns and Activism	– Involved in Ralph Nader’s presidential campaign (2000)
Notable Achievements and Recognitions	– Completed Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government program

Sinema began her political career as a member of the Arizona Green Party. She became well-known as a progressive activist who fought for LGBT rights and was against the war on terror. In 2004, she switched from the Green Party to the Arizona Democratic Party, and in 2012 she was elected to the United States House of Representatives. After she was elected, she joined the New Democrat Coalition, the Blue Dog Coalition, and the nonpartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. This gave her one of the most conservative voting records in the Democratic caucus.

She won the 2018 Senate race to replace Jeff Flake. She beat the Republican candidate, Martha McSally. Sinema was elected to the House of Representatives in 2012 and to the Senate in 2018. She was the first openly bisexual woman to do so, and after Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, she was the second openly LGBT woman to do so. She was also the first woman elected to the Arizona Senate.

18. Sarah Louise Palin

Sarah Louise Palin	Information
Full Name	Sarah Louise Palin
Nickname	Sarah Barracuda
Born	February 11, 1964 (age 59) in Sandpoint, Idaho, U.S.
Political Party	Republican
Spouse	Todd Palin
Children	5, including Bristol
Education	Bachelor’s degree in Communications with an emphasis in Journalism
Career Highlights	9th Governor of Alaska (2006-2009)
Notable Event	2008 Republican vice presidential nominee alongside
Media Career	Political commentator for Fox News (2010-2015)
Notable Book	“Going Rogue” (memoir following the 2008 election)
Recent Election	Ran in the 2022 special election for Alaska’s at-large

Sarah Louise Palin was the 9th governor of Alaska from 2006 until her resignation in 2009. She is an American politician, pundit, author, and reality television star. She was the first Republican female vice presidential contender and the second female vice presidential nominee of a major party, after Geraldine Ferraro in 1984, when she ran with Arizona Senator John McCain in 2008. Unfortunately, the McCain-Palin ticket lost the 2008 election against then-Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden of the Democratic Party.

19. Ayanna Soyini Presley

Ayanna Soyini Pressley (born February 3, 1974) is an American politician who has represented Massachusetts’ 7th congressional district since 2019. Her district encompasses the northern third of Boston, the majority of Cambridge, sections of Milton, and all of Chelsea, Everett, Randolph, and Somerville.

Ayanna Soyini Presley	Information
Position	U.S. Representative for Massachusetts’s 7th Congressional District
Assumed Office	January 3, 2019
Party	Democratic
Birth Date	February 3, 1974
Birth Place	Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Education	Francis W. Parker School, Boston University
Career	At-large member of the Boston City Council (2010-2019)
Achievements	First black woman elected to the Boston City Council and Congress from Massachusetts
Community Work	Advocate for domestic violence, child abuse, and human trafficking issues
Campaign	Won the Democratic primary against incumbent Michael Capuano in 2018

Pressley, a member of the Democratic Party, ran unopposed in the general election after defeating ten-term incumbent Mike Capuano in the primary. She was previously elected to the Boston City Council as an at-large member in 2010. Pressley was the first black woman elected to the Boston City Council and the first black woman elected to the Massachusetts State House of Representatives.

20. Mary Bono Mack

Mary Bono Mack	Information
Full Name	Mary Bono (née Whitaker and formerly Mary Bono Mack)
Date of Birth	October 24, 1961 (age 61)
Place of Birth	Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Nationality	American
Political Affiliation	Republican Party
Occupation	Politician, Businesswoman, Lobbyist
Education	University of Southern California (Bachelor of Arts in Art History)
Career Highlights	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1998 to 2013 Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Served on the House Judiciary Committee during impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton
Professional Roles	Senior Vice President at Faegre Baker Daniels Consulting Chairwoman of the House Energy Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse
Notable Achievements	Successfully amended and improved the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 Played a key role in establishing VA clinics in Blythe and Palm Desert, California Voted in favor of repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on openly homosexual service members
Family	Spouses: Sonny Bono, Glenn Baxley, Connie Mack IV, Stephen S. Oswald Children: Chesare and Chianna
Additional Information	Co-founder of the political affairs consulting firm Integritas by Bono Former interim president and CEO of USA Gymnastics Active in telecommunications, privacy, and healthcare legislation Engaged in humanitarian efforts to build schools for girls in Pakistan

Mary Bono is an American politician, entrepreneur, and lobbyist who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1998 to 2013, representing Palm Springs and much of central and eastern Riverside County, California. Bono’s district was renumbered as the 36th district after the 2010 census, and it was made somewhat more Democratic and Hispanic than its predecessor. Democratic rival Raul Ruiz, a physician, beat her with 53 percent of the vote to Bono’s 47.1 percent in a major shock.