Margaret Hassan

Margaret "Maggie" Hassan is a Democratic politician serving as the junior U.S. Senator from New Hampshire. Born on February 27, 1958, in Boston, Massachusetts, she earned her bachelor's degree from Brown University in 1980 and a Juris Doctor from Northeastern University School of Law in 1985. Before entering politics, Hassan worked as an attorney in private practice and served as associate general counsel for Brigham and Women's Hospital. Her entry into public service was partly inspired by her experience advocating for her son, who has cerebral palsy, which led to her appointment to a state education commission in 1999. Hassan served in the New Hampshire State Senate from 2004 to 2010, where she eventually became the Majority Leader. In 2012, she was elected as the 81st Governor of New Hampshire, serving two terms from 2013 to 2017. She was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 after narrowly defeating incumbent Kelly Ayotte. Hassan is notable for being one of only two women in American history—alongside fellow New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen—to be elected as both a state governor and a U.S. Senator. She was re-elected to a second Senate term in 2022.

Senator Hassan's policy positions generally align with the Democratic platform, with an emphasis on bipartisan cooperation. In healthcare, she supports the Affordable Care Act and has championed legislation to ban 'surprise' medical billing and allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices. She has been a prominent advocate for addressing the opioid epidemic through increased funding for treatment and law enforcement. On economic issues, she focuses on strengthening the workforce through job training programs like the Gateway to Careers Act and supporting American manufacturing to compete globally, particularly with China. Regarding immigration and national security, Hassan supports 'secure, orderly, and humane' borders, having voted for increased funding for border technology, personnel, and physical barriers where necessary. On the environment, she supports investments in clean energy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and has pushed for tax relief to lower energy costs for families. She is also a vocal supporter of reproductive rights, opposing restrictive abortion bans and advocating for the protection of women's healthcare services.