Senator Maggie Hassan is working across party lines to solve problems, expand opportunity for all hard-working families and small businesses, and keep New Hampshire and America safe, secure, and free. In 2016, she was elected to represent New Hampshire in the United States Senate, winning one of the most competitive Senate races in the country by 1,017 votes. Senator Hassan is only the second woman in American history to be elected as both Governor and Senator.
In the Senate, she is an independent leader focused on the priorities that matter to the people of New Hampshire, including lowering health care costs, combating the opioid crisis, strengthening the workforce, expanding access to broadband, cutting taxes for small businesses, addressing climate change, and keeping our country safe.
A recipient of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Legislative Action Award, Maggie Hassan has teamed up with Republicans to propose dozens of bipartisan bills on issues ranging from tax cuts for innovators to clean energy to supporting veterans’ transition to civilian life — many of which have already become law. Senator Hassan secured a ninefold increase in funding for the state to combat the opioid crisis and joined with Republicans to stop pharmacies from limiting access to lower cost generic prescription drugs. She partnered with Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana to successfully pass into law a measure to help end the practice of surprise medical billing. The Senator has worked across party lines to provide funding to expand access to broadband in New Hampshire and ensure New Hampshire workers have the skills they need to compete in the 21st century economy.
Senator Hassan serves on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, chairing the subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight. As a member of the Committee, the Senator introduced and passed bipartisan legislation helping the Department of Homeland Security better identify terrorist threats. She also helped pass a bill to strengthen American cybersecurity by building stronger coordination between the federal government and the states and improving the country’s ability to identify and stop cyberthreats. She is also a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), Senate Finance Committee, Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and the Joint Economic Committee.
The Senator is part of the bipartisan Common Sense Coalition that was able to break the stalemate and help pass an additional bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill at the end of last year. That legislation helped secure billions of dollars for New Hampshire small businesses and families and saved thousands of jobs. The bipartisan group continues to meet to try to find a path forward on a number of critical priorities.
The Senator’s decision to first run for office was inspired in large part by her advocacy to ensure that her son Ben, who experiences severe disabilities, and other kids like him would have the same opportunities as their peers.
Serving for three terms in the New Hampshire State Senate, as the 81st Governor of New Hampshire, and now as United States Senator, she has continued to fight to ensure that all Americans, regardless of personal circumstances, have the opportunity to succeed.
Senator Hassan earned her B.A. from Brown University and her J.D. from the Northeastern School of Law. She and her husband, Tom, an educator, are the proud parents of two children, Ben (33) and Meg (29).