Orphaned as a child, Olympia Snowe was raised by her aunt and uncle. She earned a political science degree at the University of Maine in 1969. Her husband, a member of the Maine House, was killed in a car crash in 1973. She ran for his vacated seat and was re-elected twice. She went on to the US House in 1978. She represented Maine's 2nd District until 1994, when she was elected to the Senate. Because she's a moderate Republican in a closely divided chamber, she has wielded great power in closing votes and breaking filibusters, including the recent health care "Gang of Six." She says her top legislative priorities as campaign finance reform, contraceptive coverage, assisting the growth of small business, prescription drug coverage, and student loan and child care funding. Official Biography
Birthday: February 21, 1947
Committees: Commerce, Justice and Science; Finance; Small Business & Entrepreneurship; Select Committee on Intelligence
The Issues: Find out where Sen. Snowe stands on the issues.
Other: Snowe married Maine Governor John McKernan in 1989. She is the first Greek-American woman in Congress.
Quote: “I feel the ability to bridge the divide and corral a consensus on a critical issue facing this country. This is the only option we have in the final analysis as far as a fiscal tool. We have to get it right, and we have to make it work.”