Maria Cantwell

American politician and businesswoman (born 1958)

Maria Elaine Cantwell /ˈkæntˌwɛl/ (born October 13, 1958) is the junior United States Senator from Washington, serving since 2001. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Maria Cantwell
United States Senator
from Washington
Assumed office
January 3, 2001
Serving with Patty Murray
Preceded bySlade Gorton
Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee
Assumed office
February 3, 2021
Preceded byRoger Wicker
Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee
In office
January 3, 2019 – February 3, 2021
Preceded byBill Nelson
Succeeded byRoger Wicker
Ranking Member of the Senate Energy Committee
In office
January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019
Preceded byLisa Murkowski
Succeeded byJoe Manchin
Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee
In office
February 12, 2014 – January 3, 2015
Preceded byMary Landrieu
Succeeded byDavid Vitter
Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee
In office
January 3, 2013 – February 12, 2014
Preceded byDaniel Akaka
Succeeded byJon Tester
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Washington's 1st district
In office
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995
Preceded byJohn Miller
Succeeded byRick White
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the Position 1, 44th legislative district
In office
January 12, 1987 – January 3, 1993
Preceded byJeanine Long
Succeeded byJeanine Long
Personal details
Born
Maria Ellen Cantwell

(1958-10-13) October 13, 1958 (age 66)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
ParentsPaul Cantwell (father)
EducationMiami University (BA)
Signature
WebsiteSenate website

Cantwell first served in the Washington House of Representatives from 1987 to 1993 and then in the United States House of Representatives from Washington's 1st congressional district from 1993 to 1995, after which she worked as an executive for RealNetworks. She is Washington's second female senator, after Patty Murray. She serves as the Ranking Member on the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

While Democrats were in the majority, Cantwell served as Chairwoman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship from 2014 to 2015 and Chairwoman of the Committee on Indian Affairs from 2013 to 2014.

Upon the February 2017 resignation of Jeff Sessions, Cantwell became the most senior junior Senator.

Other websites

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  Media related to Maria Cantwell at Wikimedia Commons