Maggie Hassan is a prominent American politician and attorney, currently serving as the junior United States Senator from New Hampshire since 2017.
A member of the Democratic Party, she is known for her work on bipartisan issues, economic opportunity, healthcare access, and support for families with disabilities.
Born Margaret Coldwell Wood on February 27, 1958, in Boston, Massachusetts, she grew up in a family with a strong public service background.
Her father, Robert Coldwell Wood, was a noted political scientist and professor who served as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Her mother, Margaret Wood, was a teacher.
Siblings
Maggie has two siblings, a brother, Frank Wood, and a sister, Frances Wood.
Frank Wood is a Tony Award-winning actor recognized for his work in theater, including notable performances on Broadway.
The family maintained close ties, with siblings occasionally mentioned in public contexts, such as during her political victories and family gatherings.
Her brother Frank and sister Franny have been supportive figures in her life and career, appearing in mentions from her election speeches and family events.
Career
Hassan’s professional journey began after earning a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and a juris doctor from Northeastern University School of Law in 1985.
She initially worked in private practice at the law firm Palmer & Dodge and later as associate general counsel for Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
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Her entry into public service was influenced by her role as a parent advocating for children with disabilities, particularly after her son Ben was born with cerebral palsy.
In 1999, she served on the Advisory Committee to the Adequacy in Education and Finance Commission under New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen.
She entered electoral politics in 2004, winning a seat in the New Hampshire State Senate, where she served three terms until 2010.
During that time, she held leadership roles including majority leader and president pro tempore, chairing committees on commerce, capital budget, and public affairs.
After a brief hiatus following a 2010 election loss amid a Republican wave, she ran for governor in 2012 and won, becoming the 81st Governor of New Hampshire.
She served two terms from 2013 to 2017, balancing budgets without new sales or income taxes, expanding Medicaid, addressing the opioid crisis, and freezing in-state tuition at public universities.
In 2016, she successfully challenged incumbent Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte, winning narrowly by about 1,000 votes.
She was reelected in 2022 and continues to serve in the Senate, focusing on cross-party collaboration.
Notably, she is only the second woman in U.S. history—along with fellow New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen—to have been elected both governor and U.S. senator.
Accolades
Hassan served as vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association during her gubernatorial tenure and acted as a superdelegate at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
As a senator, she has been honored with the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Legislative Action Award for her work on collaborative legislation.
Her historic status as one of only two women to hold both gubernatorial and senatorial office from the same state stands as a significant achievement in American political history.
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