Olympia Jean Snowe (born February 21, 1947) is a Republican politician currently serving as the senior United States senator from Maine.

As a moderate Republican in a Senate divided with 45 Democrats and 55 Republicans as of 2004, Snowe often has proven a key swing vote on close votes and in ceasing or perpetuating Senate filibusters. This has elevated her status as an important leader in the body, and sometimes made her the target of attacks from more conservative Republicans, such as the Club for Growth, which has labeled her a Republican in Name Only ("RINO"). Indeed, Snowe is widely seen as socially liberal. She supports legalized abortion, gay rights, and, to a minor extent, gun control. In fiscal matters, Snowe is also moderate. Though she supported the first round of Bush tax cuts, she joined with Democrats in voting to reduce the size of later ones. She also has voted for Democrat-sponsored health care legislation.

Snowe's maiden name was Olympia Jean Boucles. She rose quickly in Maine Republican politics, working for Congressman (later Senator and Defense Secretary) William Cohen and serving in the state legislature, first in the House and then in the Senate. She first ran for the state House in 1973 after her husband, State Rep. Peter Snowe, was killed in an automobile accident, and won his seat at the age of 26. In 1976, she was a delegate to both the state and national Republican conventions.

She was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1978, and served in that body from 1979-1995, representing Maine's 2nd Congressional District. In 1994, Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell announced he would not run for reelection, and Snowe immediately declared her candidacy for the seat. The Democratic nominee was her House colleague, 1st District Congressman Tom Andrews. Snowe defeated Andrews 60%-36%, carrying every county in the state. She was reelected in 2000 over State Senate President Mark Lawrence, winning by an even larger electoral margin, 69%-31%.

A 1969 graduate of the University of Maine, she is married to John McKernan, a former Governor of Maine.

Committees: Commerce, Science & Transportation; Intelligence (Select); Finance; Small Business & Entrepreneurship (Chair)

External links

• Official website (http://snowe.senate.gov/)

Preceded by: George Mitchell

U.S. Senators from Maine

Succeeded by: —