Maria Cantwell

Maria Cantwell
Official portrait, 2018
Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office February 3, 2021
Preceded by	Roger Wicker
Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee
In office January 3, 2019 – February 3, 2021
Preceded by	Bill Nelson
Succeeded by	Roger Wicker
Ranking Member of the Senate Energy Committee
In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Lisa Murkowski
Succeeded by	Joe Manchin
Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee
In office February 12, 2014 – January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Mary Landrieu
Succeeded by	David Vitter
Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee
In office January 3, 2013 – February 12, 2014
Preceded by	Daniel Akaka
Succeeded by	Jon Tester
United States Senator from Washington
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2001 Serving with Patty Murray
Preceded by	Slade Gorton
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington's 1st district
In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	John Miller
Succeeded by	Rick White
Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 44th district
In office January 12, 1987 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	Jeanine Long
Succeeded by	Jeanine Long
Personal details
Born	Maria Ellen Cantwell (1958-10-13) October 13, 1958 (age 65) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Parent	Paul Cantwell (father)
Education	Miami University (BA)
Signature
Website	Senate website
Maria Cantwell's voice Maria Cantwell on her constituents' lack of certainty and the mismanagement of Southwest Airlines Recorded February 9, 2023

Maria Ellen Cantwell (/ˈkæntˌwɛl/; born October 13, 1958)^[1] is an American politician and former businesswoman serving as the junior United States senator from Washington since 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, she served in the Washington House of Representatives from 1987 to 1993, and in the United States House of Representatives from Washington's 1st congressional district from 1993 to 1995.

Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, Cantwell graduated from Miami University before moving to Seattle to work on Alan Cranston's 1984 presidential campaign. In 1986, she was elected to the state House of Representatives, where she served until her election to Congress in 1992. Cantwell served one term in Congress before losing her seat to Republican Rick White in the 1994 election. She then briefly worked in the private sector as vice president of marketing for RealNetworks.

Despite having vowed to remain out of politics, Cantwell ran for the United States Senate in 2000. She defeated Republican incumbent Slade Gorton in one of the closest elections in the state's history. Cantwell was reelected in 2006, 2012, and 2018. Upon the February 2017 resignation of Jeff Sessions to become United States Attorney General, she became the most senior junior senator. She is the second female senator from Washington, after Patty Murray.