Women in the United States Congress: 1917-2007 Page: 2 of 100
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Women in the United States Congress: 1917-2007
Summary
A record 90 women serve in the 110th Congress: 74 in the House (54 Democrats
and 20 Republicans) and 16 in the Senate (11 Democrats and 5 Republicans). A
record 92 women were elected to the 110th Congress, but two died during the first
session, Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), and Jo Ann Davis (R-VA).
The first woman elected to Congress was Representative Jeanette Rankin (R-
MT, 1917-1919, 1941-1943). The first woman to serve in the Senate was Rebecca
Latimer Felton (D-GA). She was appointed in 1922 and served for only one day.
A total of 244 women have served in Congress, 156 Democrats and 88
Republicans. Of these women, 209 have served only in the House, 28 only in the
Senate, and seven in both houses. The figures include one Delegate each from
Guam, Hawaii, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Of the 216 women who have served in the House, 38 were elected to fill
vacancies caused by the death of their husbands. Sixteen of the 38 were subsequently
elected to additional terms. Twenty-three women have been elected to fill other
vacancies.
Edith Nourse Rogers (R-MA), who served in the House for 35 years, holds the
record for length of service by a woman in Congress. Margaret Chase Smith (R-
ME), the first woman elected to the House and Senate, holds the record for Senate
service by a woman with 24 years.
Of the 35 women who have served in the Senate, 13 were first appointed, and
five were first elected, to fill unexpired terms. Nine were chosen to fill vacancies
caused by the death of their husbands, and one to fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation of her father. Of these 10, three were subsequently elected to additional
terms. Hattie Caraway (D-AR) was the first Senator to succeed her husband and the
first woman elected to a six-year Senate term.
A total of 26 black women have served in Congress (one in the Senate, 254 in
the House), including the 14 serving in the 110th Congress. Seven Hispanic women
have been elected to the House; all are serving in the 110th Congress. Four Asian
American women have served in the House, including two in the 110th Congress.
Fourteen women have chaired House committees, and six women have chaired
Senate committees, including four chairs of standing House committees and two
chairs of standing Senate committee in the first session of the 110th Congress.
Representative Millender-McDonald was the chair of the House Administration
Committee at the time of her death.
This report identifies the names, committee assignments, dates of service, and
(for Representatives) districts of the 244 women who have served in Congress. It
will be updated as events warrant.
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Amer, Mildred L. Women in the United States Congress: 1917-2007, report, December 5, 2007; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc809174/m1/2/: accessed April 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.