Misplaced Pages

Barbara Mikulski: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 03:45, 5 March 2007 editFlatterworld (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers32,279 edits →External links: m← Previous edit Revision as of 20:25, 7 March 2007 edit undoDeanHinnen (talk | contribs)2,143 editsNo edit summaryNext edit →
Line 29: Line 29:


==Congressional career== ==Congressional career==
] ]
In ] she ran for the U.S. Senate for the first time, but was defeated by the ] incumbent, ] It turned out to be the only time that Mikulski ever lost an election. In ] she ran for the U.S. Senate for the first time, but was defeated by the ] incumbent, ] It turned out to be the only time that Mikulski ever lost an election.


In ], she won the Democratic nomination for the ] of Maryland after the incumbent, ], made a successful run for the Senate. She was easily elected in November, winning 76% of the vote. She was reelected four more times, never facing substantive opposition in the heavily Democratic district. In ], she won the Democratic nomination for the ] of Maryland after the incumbent, ], made a successful run for the Senate. She was easily elected in November, winning 76% of the vote. She was reelected four more times, never facing substantive opposition in the heavily Democratic district.

⚫ ] and actor ] in promoting awareness of ].]]


In ] Mikulski announced her retirement from politics. At the time of this announcement, it was expected that then-] ] would run for the seat being vacated by retiring Senator Mathias. However Hughes became caught up in the aftermath of the Maryland ]. He lost popularity with voters, opening the door for Mikulski's bid for the Senate. During the ], her opponent, ], made comments that Mikulski's supporters interpreted as an attempt to draw attention to the issue of Mikulski's ]. Mikulski never directly responded to the issue, and eventually won the race with 61% of the vote . Mikulski is one of 11 senators to vote against both the 1991 and 2002 resolutions authorizing the use of force in ] . In ] Mikulski announced her retirement from politics. At the time of this announcement, it was expected that then-] ] would run for the seat being vacated by retiring Senator Mathias. However Hughes became caught up in the aftermath of the Maryland ]. He lost popularity with voters, opening the door for Mikulski's bid for the Senate. During the ], her opponent, ], made comments that Mikulski's supporters interpreted as an attempt to draw attention to the issue of Mikulski's ]. Mikulski never directly responded to the issue, and eventually won the race with 61% of the vote . Mikulski is one of 11 senators to vote against both the 1991 and 2002 resolutions authorizing the use of force in ] .


Mikulski, popularly known as "Senator Barb," was re-elected with large majorities in ], ] and ]. Mikulski, popularly known as "Senator Barb," was re-elected with large majorities in ], ] and ].

⚫ ] and actor ] in promoting awareness of ].]]


===Committee assignments=== ===Committee assignments===

Revision as of 20:25, 7 March 2007

Barbara Mikulski
United States Senator
from Maryland
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 1987–Serving with Ben Cardin
Preceded byCharles Mathias, Jr.
Succeeded byIncumbent (2011)
Personal details
Nationalityamerican
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseNone
ProfessionSocial worker, Activist

Barbara Ann Mikulski (born July 20, 1936), a member of the Democratic Party, is the current Class III United States Senator representing the State of Maryland. She has served as senator since 1987, and is currently the most senior female U.S. Senator.

Early life and activism

Born as the great-granddaughter of Polish immigrants who owned a local bakery, Barbara is the oldest of three daughters of Christine and William Mikulski. She was born and raised in historic and ethnically diverse East Baltimore. During her high school years at the Institute of Notre Dame, she worked in her parents' grocery store, delivering groceries to seniors in her neighborhood who were unable to leave their homes.

After graduating from Mount Saint Agnes College (now a part of the Loyola College in Maryland), she obtained her masters degree in social work (MSW) from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. Mikulski went to work on the front lines in President John F. Kennedy’s war against poverty. She worked as a social worker for Catholic charities and Baltimore's Department of Social Services, helping at-risk children and educating seniors about the Medicare program. Mikulski became an activist social worker when she heard about plans to build a 16-lane highway through Baltimore's Fells Point neighborhood. She helped organize communities on both sides of the city and stopped the construction of the road, saving Fells Point and Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

Mikulski's activism led to a seat on the Baltimore City Council in 1971.

Congressional career

Congresswoman Mikulski speaking to a patient at a military hospital, 1980.

In 1974 she ran for the U.S. Senate for the first time, but was defeated by the Republican incumbent, Charles Mathias, Jr. It turned out to be the only time that Mikulski ever lost an election.

In 1976, she won the Democratic nomination for the 3rd Congressional District of Maryland after the incumbent, Paul Sarbanes, made a successful run for the Senate. She was easily elected in November, winning 76% of the vote. She was reelected four more times, never facing substantive opposition in the heavily Democratic district.

In 1986 Mikulski announced her retirement from politics. At the time of this announcement, it was expected that then-Governor Harry Hughes would run for the seat being vacated by retiring Senator Mathias. However Hughes became caught up in the aftermath of the Maryland savings and loan crisis. He lost popularity with voters, opening the door for Mikulski's bid for the Senate. During the campaign, her opponent, Linda Chavez, made comments that Mikulski's supporters interpreted as an attempt to draw attention to the issue of Mikulski's sexual orientation. Mikulski never directly responded to the issue, and eventually won the race with 61% of the vote . Mikulski is one of 11 senators to vote against both the 1991 and 2002 resolutions authorizing the use of force in Iraq .

Mikulski, popularly known as "Senator Barb," was re-elected with large majorities in 1992, 1998 and 2004.

Senator Mikulski joins senator Kit Bond and actor David Hyde Pierce in promoting awareness of Alzheimer's disease.

Committee assignments

As of June 2006, Mikulski serves on the following Senate committees:

Senate action

Senator Mikulski has taken a strong stance against predatory lending, even going so far as to take personal action against Fairbanks Capital, which is claimed to have illegally foreclosed on over 100 homes in Maryland. Senator Mikulski is also a strong supporter of NASA and expanding exploration of space.

Election history

Year Office Election Subject Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes %
1976 Congress, MD 3rd district General Barbara Mikulski Democratic 143,461 74.59% Samuel Culotta Republican 36,447 25.41%
1978 Congress, MD 3rd district General Barbara Mikulski Democratic 91,189 100% Unopposed
1980 Congress, MD 3rd district General Barbara Mikulski Democratic 134,367 76.13% Russell Schaffer Republican 32,074 23.87%
1982 Congress, MD 3rd district General Barbara Mikulski Democratic 110,042 74.2% Robert Scherr Republican 38,259 25.8%
1984 Congress, MD 3rd district General Barbara Mikulski Democratic 133,189 68.21% Ross Pierpont Republican 59,493 30.47%
1986 MD Senator, Class 3 General Barbara Mikulski Democratic 675,225 60.69% Linda Chavez Republican 437,411 39.31%
1992 MD Senator, Class 3 General Barbara Mikulski Democratic 1,307,610 71% Alan Keyes Republican 533,688 28.98%
1998 MD Senator, Class 3 General Barbara Mikulski Democratic 1,062,810 70.5% Ross Pierpont Republican 444,637 29.5%
2004 MD Senator, Class 3 General Barbara Mikulski Democratic 1,504,691 64.77% E.J. Pipkin Republican 783,055 33.71%

References

External links


Political offices
Preceded byPaul Sarbanes Representative for the 3rd Congressional District of Maryland
1977-1987 		Succeeded byBenjamin L. Cardin
Preceded byCharles Mathias, Jr. U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Maryland
1987- 		Succeeded byIncumbent
Maryland's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Representatives
(ordered by district)
Current United States senators
President: ▌ Kamala Harris (D) ‧ President pro tempore: ▌ Chuck Grassley (R)
Categories:
Barbara Mikulski: Difference between revisions Add topic