Barbara Mikulski
Encyclopedia
Barbara Ann Mikulski is the senior United States Senator
from Maryland
and a member of the Democratic Party
. Mikulski, a former U.S. Representative, is the longest-serving female senator in U.S. history, having served since 1987.
Raised in the Highlandtown
neighborhood of East Baltimore
, Mikulski attended Mount Saint Agnes College
and the University of Maryland School of Social Work. Originally a social worker and community organizer, she was elected to the Baltimore City Council
in 1971 after delivering a highly publicized address on the "ethnic movement" in America. She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976, and in 1986 she became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Maryland.
Mikulski is chairwoman of the Health Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging and Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, and is a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence
. Mikulski is the longest serving present Senator who has never been the chairperson of a full standing committee, and Mikulski is the longest serving/highest ranking Democrat who is not a present chairperson of a full standing committee of the U.S. Senate.
immigrant
s who owned a local baker
y, Barbara Mikulski is the oldest of three daughters of Christine Eleanor (née Kutz) and William Mikulski. She was born and raised in the Highlandtown
neighborhood of 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. 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 and Canton neighborhoods. 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. She was an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1974. She 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 was elected to become a member of the United States House of Representatives
, representing Maryland's 3rd congressional district
from 1977 to 1987, thanks to the retirement of incumbent Paul Sarbanes
, who made a successful run for the U.S. Senate. She was easily elected, winning 76% of the vote. She was re-elected four more times, never facing substantive opposition in the heavily Democratic district.
suggested Mikulski as a running mate for Al Gore
, who instead chose her colleague Joe Lieberman
. In 2007, Mikulski endorsed her colleague, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY
) for President of the United States
, praising her as a leader and citing her desire to break the "glass ceiling
" by electing the first woman president.
:
.
Mikulski has opposed predatory lending
, and has had been an outspoken opponent against Fairbanks Capital, alleged to have illegally foreclosed
on over 100 homes in Maryland. She is also a strong supporter of NASA
and expanding space exploration.
Mikulski voted in favor of the FISA bill, which granted immunity
to the telecom companies who cooperated with the warrantless wiretapping of U.S. citizens
.
On October 1, 2008, Mikulski voted in favor of HR1424, the Senate version of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
, providing a $700 billion bail out to the United States financial market.
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 percent of the vote. She was the first female Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate in her own right (not appointed or filling a seat of a deceased husband).
Mikulski, popularly known as "Senator Barb," was re-elected with large majorities in 1992, 1998, 2004, and 2010 . Having won reelection in 2010, she has surpassed Margaret Chase Smith
as the longest-serving female senator. ABC News
named Mikulski its Person of the Week for that milestone. Mikulski is also the second longest-serving female member in the history of the United States Congress (only after Rep. Edith Nourse Rogers
). If she stays in office until March 17, 2012, she will become the longest-serving female member in the history of the United States Congress.
, set in Baltimore.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. Mikulski, a former U.S. Representative, is the longest-serving female senator in U.S. history, having served since 1987.
Raised in the Highlandtown
Highlandtown, Baltimore
Highlandtown is a neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, United States.The area currently known as Highlandtown was established in 1866 when the area known as "Snake Hill" was established as a village outside of the Baltimore city limits. The first settlers of the community were primarily Greek...
neighborhood of East Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Mikulski attended Mount Saint Agnes College
Mount Saint Agnes College
Mount Saint Agnes College was a Catholic women's college located in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. It opened in 1890 and was operated by the Sisters of Mercy....
and the University of Maryland School of Social Work. Originally a social worker and community organizer, she was elected to the Baltimore City Council
Baltimore City Council
The Baltimore City Council is the legislative branch that governs the City of Baltimore and its nearly 700,000 citizens. Baltimore has fourteen single-member City Council districts and representatives are elected for a four-year term. To qualify for a position on the Council, a person must be...
in 1971 after delivering a highly publicized address on the "ethnic movement" in America. She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976, and in 1986 she became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Maryland.
Mikulski is chairwoman of the Health Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging and Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, and is a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence
United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
The United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is dedicated to overseeing the United States Intelligence Community—the agencies and bureaus of the federal government of the United States who provide information and analysis for leaders of the executive and legislative branches. The...
. Mikulski is the longest serving present Senator who has never been the chairperson of a full standing committee, and Mikulski is the longest serving/highest ranking Democrat who is not a present chairperson of a full standing committee of the U.S. Senate.
Early life, education and career
The great-granddaughter of PolishPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
immigrant
Immigration to the United States
Immigration to the United States has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the history of the United States. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants,...
s who owned a local baker
Baker
A baker is someone who bakes and sells bread, Cakes and similar foods may also be produced, as the traditional boundaries between what is produced by a baker as opposed to a pastry chef have blurred in recent decades...
y, Barbara Mikulski is the oldest of three daughters of Christine Eleanor (née Kutz) and William Mikulski. She was born and raised in the Highlandtown
Highlandtown, Baltimore
Highlandtown is a neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, United States.The area currently known as Highlandtown was established in 1866 when the area known as "Snake Hill" was established as a village outside of the Baltimore city limits. The first settlers of the community were primarily Greek...
neighborhood of East Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. During her high school years at the Institute of Notre Dame
Institute of Notre Dame
The Institute of Notre Dame is a private Catholic all-girls high school located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore.-History:...
, she worked in her parents' grocery store
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
, delivering groceries to seniors in her neighborhood who were unable to leave their homes.
After graduating from Mount Saint Agnes College
Mount Saint Agnes College
Mount Saint Agnes College was a Catholic women's college located in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. It opened in 1890 and was operated by the Sisters of Mercy....
(now a part of the Loyola College in Maryland
Loyola College in Maryland
Loyola University Maryland is a Roman Catholic, Jesuit private university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established as Loyola College in Maryland by John Early and eight other members of the Society of Jesus in 1852, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges...
), she obtained her masters degree in social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
(MSW) from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. She worked as a social worker for Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
charities and Baltimore's Department of Social Services, helping at-risk children and educating seniors about the Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
program. Mikulski became an activist social worker when she heard about plans to build a 16-lane highway through Baltimore's Fells Point and Canton neighborhoods. She helped organize communities on both sides of the city and stopped the construction of the road
Freeway and expressway revolts
Many freeway revolts took place in developed countries during the 1960s and 1970s, in response to plans for the construction of new freeways, a significant number of which were abandoned or significantly scaled back due to widespread public opposition; especially of those whose neighborhoods would...
, saving Fells Point and Baltimore's Inner Harbor
Inner Harbor
The Inner Harbor is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and iconic landmark of the City of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Described by the Urban Land Institute in 2009 as “the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment around the World.” The Inner Harbor is actually the end of the...
.
Early political career
Mikulski received her first national attention in 1970 as a result of a conference at Catholic University regarding “Ethnic Americans” convened by Msgr. Geno Baroni. Her message became one of the major documents of the “ethnic movement”.Mikulski's activism led to a seat on the Baltimore City Council
Baltimore City Council
The Baltimore City Council is the legislative branch that governs the City of Baltimore and its nearly 700,000 citizens. Baltimore has fourteen single-member City Council districts and representatives are elected for a four-year term. To qualify for a position on the Council, a person must be...
in 1971. She was an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1974. She was defeated by the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent, Charles Mathias, Jr.
Charles Mathias, Jr.
Charles McCurdy "Mac" Mathias, Jr. was a Republican member of the United States Senate, representing Maryland from 1969 to 1987...
. It turned out to be the only time that Mikulski ever lost an election. In 1976, she was elected to become a member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, representing Maryland's 3rd congressional district
Maryland's 3rd congressional district
Maryland's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district from the state of Maryland. It comprises portions of Baltimore, Howard and Anne Arundel counties, as well as a significant part of the independent city of Baltimore...
from 1977 to 1987, thanks to the retirement of incumbent Paul Sarbanes
Paul Sarbanes
Paul Spyros Sarbanes , a Democrat, is a former United States Senator who represented the state of Maryland. Sarbanes was the longest-serving senator in Maryland history, having served from 1977 until 2007. He did not seek re-election in 2006, when he was succeeded by fellow Democrat Ben Cardin...
, who made a successful run for the U.S. Senate. She was easily elected, winning 76% of the vote. She was re-elected four more times, never facing substantive opposition in the heavily Democratic district.
U.S. Senate career
In September 2009, it was revealed in a "tell all" book that during the 2000 presidential election, President Bill ClintonBill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
suggested Mikulski as a running mate for Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
, who instead chose her colleague Joe Lieberman
Joe Lieberman
Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman is the senior United States Senator from Connecticut. A former member of the Democratic Party, he was the party's nominee for Vice President in the 2000 election. Currently an independent, he remains closely affiliated with the party.Born in Stamford, Connecticut,...
. In 2007, Mikulski endorsed her colleague, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, praising her as a leader and citing her desire to break the "glass ceiling
Glass ceiling
In economics, the term glass ceiling refers to "the unseen, yet unbreachable barrier that keeps minorities and women from rising to the upper rungs of the corporate ladder, regardless of their qualifications or achievements." Initially, the metaphor applied to barriers in the careers of women but...
" by electing the first woman president.
Committee assignments
As of April 2009, Mikulski serves on the following Senate committeesUnited States Congressional committee
A congressional committee is a legislative sub-organization in the United States Congress that handles a specific duty . Committee membership enables members to develop specialized knowledge of the matters under their jurisdiction...
:
- Committee on AppropriationsUnited States Senate Committee on AppropriationsThe United States Senate Committee on Appropriations is a standing committee of the United States Senate. It has jurisdiction over all discretionary spending legislation in the Senate....
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (Chairwoman)
- Subcommittee on DefenseUnited States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on DefenseThe U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense is one of twelve subcommittees of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. Military defense spending is the largest individual component of federal discretionary spending, making the Defense Subcommittee one of the more powerful...
- Subcommittee on Homeland SecurityUnited States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland SecurityU.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security is one of twelve subcommittees of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. It was formally established in 2003 in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 to oversee national security programs and the newly created...
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related ProgramsUnited States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related ProgramsUnited States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs is one of twelve subcommittees of the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations.-Jurisdiction:...
. - Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsUnited States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsThe United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions generally considers matters relating to health, education, labor, and pensions...
- Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace SafetyUnited States Senate Health Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace SafetyThe Senate Health Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety is one of the three subcommittees within the Senate Committee on Health-Jurisdiction:...
- Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging (Chairwoman)
- Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
- Select Committee on IntelligenceUnited States Senate Select Committee on IntelligenceThe United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is dedicated to overseeing the United States Intelligence Community—the agencies and bureaus of the federal government of the United States who provide information and analysis for leaders of the executive and legislative branches. The...
.
Political positions
Mikulski is one of 11 senators to vote against both the 1991 and 2002 resolutions authorizing the use of force in IraqIraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Mikulski has opposed predatory lending
Predatory lending
Predatory lending describes unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent practices of some lenders during the loan origination process. While there are no legal definitions in the United States for predatory lending, an audit report on predatory lending from the office of inspector general of the FDIC broadly...
, and has had been an outspoken opponent against Fairbanks Capital, alleged to have illegally foreclosed
Foreclosure
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgage lender , or other lien holder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower 's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law...
on over 100 homes in Maryland. She is also a strong supporter of NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
and expanding space exploration.
Mikulski voted in favor of the FISA bill, which granted immunity
Amnesty law
An amnesty law is any law that retroactively exempts a select group of people, usually military leaders and government leaders, from criminal liability for crimes committed.Most allegations involve human rights abuses and crimes against humanity.-History:...
to the telecom companies who cooperated with the warrantless wiretapping of U.S. citizens
NSA warrantless surveillance controversy
The NSA warrantless surveillance controversy concerns surveillance of persons within the United States during the collection of foreign intelligence by the U.S. National Security Agency as part of the war on terror...
.
On October 1, 2008, Mikulski voted in favor of HR1424, the Senate version of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Division A of , commonly referred to as a bailout of the U.S. financial system, is a law enacted in response to the subprime mortgage crisis...
, providing a $700 billion bail out to the United States financial market.
Political campaigns
In 1986 Mathias announced his retirement from politics. At the time of this announcement, it was expected that then-GovernorGovernor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
Harry Hughes
Harry Hughes
Harry Roe Hughes , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 57th Governor of Maryland in the United States from 1979 to 1987.-Early life and family:...
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
Savings and Loan crisis
The savings and loan crisis of the 1980s and 1990s was the failure of about 747 out of the 3,234 savings and loan associations in the United States...
. He lost popularity with voters, opening the door for Mikulski's bid for the Senate. During the campaign
Political campaign
A political campaign is an organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making process within a specific group. In democracies, political campaigns often refer to electoral campaigns, wherein representatives are chosen or referendums are decided...
, her opponent, Linda Chavez
Linda Chavez
Linda Chavez is an American author, commentator, and radio talk show host. She is also a Fox News analyst, Chairman of the Center for Equal Opportunity, has a syndicated column that appears in newspapers nationwide each week, and sits on the Board of Directors of two Fortune 1000 companies:...
, made comments that Mikulski's supporters interpreted as an attempt to draw attention to the issue of Mikulski's sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
. Mikulski never directly responded to the issue and eventually won the race with 61 percent of the vote. She was the first female Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate in her own right (not appointed or filling a seat of a deceased husband).
Mikulski, popularly known as "Senator Barb," was re-elected with large majorities in 1992, 1998, 2004, and 2010 . Having won reelection in 2010, she has surpassed Margaret Chase Smith
Margaret Chase Smith
Margaret Chase Smith was a Republican Senator from Maine, and one of the most successful politicians in Maine history. She was the first woman to be elected to both the U.S. House and the Senate, and the first woman from Maine to serve in either. She was also the first woman to have her name...
as the longest-serving female senator. ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
named Mikulski its Person of the Week for that milestone. Mikulski is also the second longest-serving female member in the history of the United States Congress (only after Rep. Edith Nourse Rogers
Edith Nourse Rogers
Edith Nourse Rogers was an American social welfare volunteer and politician who was one of the first women to serve in the United States Congress. She was the first woman elected to congress from Massachusetts...
). If she stays in office until March 17, 2012, she will become the longest-serving female member in the history of the United States Congress.
Electoral history
| Year | Office | Election | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 United States Senate election, 1974 The U.S. Senate election of 1974 was held in the wake of the Watergate scandal, Richard M. Nixon's resignation from the presidency, and Gerald Ford's subsequent pardon of Nixon. These circumstances benefited the Democrats, and they made a net gain of three seats from the Republicans. This became... |
MD Senator, Class 3 | General | Charles Mathias | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
57.3% | Barbara Mikulski | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
42.7% | ||||
| 1976 United States House election, 1976 The U.S. House election, 1976 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1976 which coincided with Jimmy Carter's election as President. Carter's narrow victory over Gerald Ford had limited coattails, and his Democratic Party gained a net of only one seat from the Republican... |
Congress, MD 3rd district | General | Barbara Mikulski | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
143,461 | 74.59% | Samuel Culotta | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
36,447 | 25.41% | ||
| 1978 | Congress, MD 3rd district | General | Barbara Mikulski | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
91,189 | 100% | Unopposed | |||||
| 1980 | Congress, MD 3rd district | General | Barbara Mikulski | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
134,367 | 76.13% | Russell Schaffer | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
32,074 | 23.87% | ||
| 1982 | Congress, MD 3rd district | General | Barbara Mikulski | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
110,042 | 74.2% | Robert Scherr | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
38,259 | 25.8% | ||
| 1984 | Congress, MD 3rd district | General | Barbara Mikulski | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
133,189 | 68.21% | Ross Pierpont | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
59,493 | 30.47% | ||
| 1986 United States Senate election in Maryland, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Maryland was held on November 3, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Charles Mathias, Jr. decided to retire, instead of seeking a fourth term. Democratic nominee Barbara Mikulski won the open seat vs. Linda Chavez, who won more votes by any Republican... |
MD Senator, Class 3 | General | Barbara Mikulski | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
675,225 | 60.69% | Linda Chavez Linda Chavez Linda Chavez is an American author, commentator, and radio talk show host. She is also a Fox News analyst, Chairman of the Center for Equal Opportunity, has a syndicated column that appears in newspapers nationwide each week, and sits on the Board of Directors of two Fortune 1000 companies:... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
437,411 | 39.31% | ||
| 1992 United States Senate election in Maryland, 1992 The 1992 United States Senate election in Maryland was held on November 3, 1992. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski won re-election to a second term.-Candidates:*Barbara Mikulski, incumbent U.S. Senator*Thomas M... |
MD Senator, Class 3 | General | Barbara Mikulski | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
1,307,610 | 71% | Alan Keyes Alan Keyes Alan Lee Keyes is an American conservative political activist, author, former diplomat, and perennial candidate for public office. A doctoral graduate of Harvard University, Keyes began his diplomatic career in the U.S... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
533,688 | 28.98% | ||
| 1998 United States Senate election in Maryland, 1998 The 1998 United States Senate election in Maryland was held on November 3, 2004. Incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski won re-election to a third term.-Results:-Candidates:*Ross Pierpont*John Taylor*Michael Gloth*Kenneth Wayman... |
MD Senator, Class 3 | General | Barbara Mikulski | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
1,062,810 | 70.5% | Ross Pierpont | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
444,637 | 29.5% | ||
| 2004 United States Senate election in Maryland, 2004 The 2004 United States Senate election in Maryland was held on November 2, 2004. Incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski won re-election to a fourth term.- Candidates :*Barbara Mikulski, incumbent U.S. Senator*Robert Kaufman, social organizer... |
MD Senator, Class 3 | General | Barbara Mikulski | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
1,504,691 | 64.77% | E. J. Pipkin | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
783,055 | 33.71% | ||
| 2010 United States Senate election in Maryland, 2010 The 2010 United States Senate election in Maryland was held on November 2, 2010. Primary elections were held on September 14, 2010. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski won re-election to a fifth term.-Background:... |
MD Senator, Class 3 | General | Barbara Mikulski | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
1,093,646 | 61.82% | Eric Wargotz | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
639,155 | 36.13% | ||
In popular culture
Senator Mikulski is mentioned in "Ebb Tide", an episode of The WireThe WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
, set in Baltimore.
External links
- Senator Barbara Mikulski official U.S. Senate website
- Barbara Mikulski for U.S. Senate official campaign website