U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R) was re-elected to represent Illinois’ 13th Congressional District.  This strong, pro-choice woman has been active in politics since 1992, when she was elected to represent the 81st district in the Illinois House of Representatives, and she was named Assistant Republican House Leader after her first term.  Once she joined the U.S. House in 1999, Biggert pushed two of her initiatives into law during her first year, and she was the only Congressperson to be made vice-chair of two subcommittees as a freshman.  Today, Biggert is the ranking member on the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, the Republican co-chair of the Caucus on Women’s Issues, and the co-chair of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children’s Caucus.  In Congress, she has fought to increase corporate accountability, increase access to education for homeless children, improve science research facilities, and protect children from online sexual exploitation.

Donna Edwards (D) was re-elected by a wide margin on November 4th. In February, Edwards won a highly competitive primary against 16-year incumbent Albert Wynn (D) Maryland’s 4th Congressional District. Edwards co-founded and served as Executive Director to the National Network to End Domestic Violence. She received national recognition as she led the fight to pass the Violence Against Women Act in 1994. Since 2000, she has served as the Executive Director for the Arca Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to the pursuit of social equity and justice.  Donna Edwards represents leadership that listens.

Gabrielle Giffords (D) was re-elected in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. Giffords won the open seat held by long-time incumbent Jim Kolbe in 2006, and she has already become an influential member of Congress thanks to her seat on the powerful House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees. Giffords is a rising star. She was the youngest woman elected to the Arizona State Senate, and she helped pass the historic increase in the national minimum wage in the First 100 Hours Agenda.

Kirsten Gillibrand (D) was re-elected in New York’s 20th Congressional District. In 2006, she unseated an entrenched incumbent in a stunning upset. This rising star won her seat by campaigning on issues important to women, including making college more affordable, increasing fuel efficiency standards, and promoting policies that help working families by providing affordable day care and flex time. She has already become an influential member of Congress with a seat on the powerful Armed Services Committee.  She’s also a young working mother who will continue to fight for all of us.

Senator-elect Kay Hagan (D) won her race by an impressive margin and will become North Carolina’s first pro-choice female Senator. As a state senator, Kay Hagan was a constant voice against partisan divide. For three straight terms the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research named her one of the ten most effective state senators.  Hagan also served as co-chair of the budget committee and knows the value of keeping a balanced check book.  Prior to her service in Raleigh, Kay served as vice president of NCBN, now Bank of America, while raising three wonderful children. Kay will be a voice for sound fiscal policy in the Senate. Please join us by congratulating Kay on her win.

Debbie Halvorson (D) won the open seat for U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois’ 11th Congressional District. Halvorson has a long history of leadership in the state of Illinois. In 1996, she ran against and beat an 18-year incumbent in a race for a state senate seat. In 2005 she became Illinois Senate majority leader, a position never before held by a woman. As a state senator, Halvorson has gained bipartisan respect and was responsible for sponsoring and passing Senate Bill 3, an innovative program ensuring that all seniors and disabled persons have access to cheaper prescription drugs. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Debbie Halvorson will be a strong voice for pro-choice women everywhere.

Mary Jo Kilroy (D) is running for U.S. House of Representatives in Ohio’s 15th Congressional District.  In 2006 Kilroy ran a highly competitive race and lost by a very narrow margin, despite being outspent by nearly $2 million.  The seat is now open, and Kilroy is the frontrunner.  Kilroy has a long-standing commitment to important women’s issues.  As Franklin County Commissioner she helped create the Columbus/Franklin County Affordable Housing Trust Corporation, to expand affordable housing to minorities, balanced the county’s budget, developed policies for environmentally friendly economic growth, and fought domestic violence. 

Ann Kirkpatrick (D) won her race for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District.  Amid controversy, long-term incumbent Rick Renzi (R) announced in the fall that he would not be running for re-election, which gave Ann her opportunity at this open seat. Kirkpatrick, a lifetime resident of the 1st District, earned her law degree from the University of Arizona College of Law, and she was the first woman to serve as Coconino County’s Deputy County Attorney. In 2004, Kirkpatrick was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives, where she worked to improve the public education system and to ensure that taxpayers’ dollars were being used responsibly.  Kirkpatrick brings her sound pro-choice record to Congress.  Join us in congratulating her on her victory.

Suzanne Kosmas (D) won her race for Florida’s 24th Congressional District. Kosmas defeated three-time incumbent Tom Feeney (R).  Kosmas was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1996 and served four terms before retiring due to term limits. As a member of the state House, Kosmas ensured increased funding for schools in her district, improved senior health care, and kept taxes low.  Kosmas is a leader in her community, New Smyrna Beach, where she started a house-building initiative for single mothers and has served on many local organization boards.  Kosmas’ common-sense style of leadership will be an asset in Congress.

Betsy Markey (D) will represent Colorado’s 4th Congressional District in Congress. Markey has been highly active in politics since 1978, when she served as a legislative aide on the Congressional Subcommittee on the Post Office and Civil Service.  Markey later became the Director of Computer Security Policy and Training, which gave her first-hand experience protecting U.S. assets and Americans from internet terrorism.  Markey is also a successful businesswoman and avid volunteer. She raised almost $1 million as the president of the Board of Directors of the Food Bank for Larimer County. Markey defeated an entrenched incumbent and should be applauded for her hard work.

Chellie Pingree (D) won her race for Maine’s 1st Congressional District. After a stunning win in the democratic primary, Pingree continued the trend in defeating Charlie Summers (R). Pingree is an eight-year veteran of the state Senate and the former director of national progressive group Common Cause. As a state senator she took on the pharmaceutical industry and passed Maine Rx, the first law of its kind in the nation, which gave the state power to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs bought in bulk. Once in Congress, Pingree will continue to work to expand access to health care, improve public education, and end the war in Iraq. Chellie Pingree will be a strong voice in Congress.

Jeanne Shaheen (D) defeated anti-choice incumbent John Sununu in New Hampshire’s U.S. Senate race.  Shaheen lost to Sununu by a narrow margin in 2002, but was able to overcome and stay focused on defeating her opponent this time around. During Jeanne’s three terms as governor she worked with both parties to pass the Clean Power Act—the first of its kind—that required power plants to reduce their emissions. She also created the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which made health care accessible to thousands of children.  In the Senate Shaheen will continue to be a champion for issues women care about. She’ll work to improve public education, end the war in Iraq, and ensure that children have health insurance.

Carol Shea-Porter (D) won re-election in NH’s 1st Congressional District. Shea-Porter caught many by surprise when she won this seat held by incumbent Jeb Bradley who had supported legislation undermining Roe v. Wade. The first woman to represent NH in Congress, she has been a leader for women’s issues since being elected.  She is committed to securing universal health care and lowering prices for prescription drugs, fixing the problems with No Child Left Behind. She supports high quality pre-kindergarten and flex time for working families. We need champions like her in Congress.

Dina Titus (Dem) was successful in her bid for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District. Titus defeated incumbent Jon Porter (R). For the last 20 years, Titus has served in the Nevada State Senate.  Since 1993 she has served as the Democratic Minority Leader.  Titus sponsored legislation to protect uninsured children, creating Nevada’s Check Up Program. Also for the past 30 years, Titus has taught American government at the University of Nevada. She is a champion for education issues – pushing for smaller class sizes and full-day kindergarten. In 2007 she received the Outstanding Leadership Award from NOW of Southern Nevada.