Debbie Stabenow
Deborah Ann Stabenow, known as Debbie Stabenow, (born April 29, 1950) is a Democratic United States Senator from Michigan. She defeated the conservative Republican incumbent, Senator (later Secretary of Energy) Spencer Abraham in 2000. She was the first woman from Michigan elected to the U.S. Senate.
She was born in Gladwin, Michigan and grew up in Clare, Michigan. She graduated from Clare High School. She received a B.A. from Michigan State University in 1972 and an M.S.W. magna cum laude from Michigan State University in 1975. She has worked as a social worker, a leadership training consultant, and served as Ingham County from Commissioner 1975-1978. She served in the the Michigan State House of Representatives from 1979-1990, where she became the first woman to preside over the house. She also served in the State Senate from 1991-1994. She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996 from Michigan's Eighth District and served two terms. She did not seek reelection to the House of Representatives in 2000, but was elected to the U.S. Senate.
She is a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget, the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. She introduced the Medical Equity and Drug Savings Act in the Senate.