Joint Action Committee
for Political Affairs

Voting Record:

Senator Debbie Stabenow Democrat of Michigan

Statistics

Party: Democrat
Born: April 29, 1950; Gladwin, Michigan
Education: Michigan State University, B.A., 1972 and M.S.W. Social Work, magna cum laude 1975
Occupation:
Family:
Religion: Methodist
Political Career: Ingham County Board of Commissioners, 1975 – 1978; Michigan House of Representatives, 1979 – 1990; Michigan Senate 1991 – 1994; Candidate for Michigan Governor 1994; U.S. House of Representatives, 1996 – 2000; elected U.S. Senate, 2000
Committees: Chair of Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry

Why Your Support

Senator Debbie Stabenow has always fought for women’s rights.  She was instrumental in expanding health care coverage to millions of American women and ensuring that they have access to preventive health care. Today, Sen. Stabenow chairs the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. 

She will not have a primary challenge. A contested GOP primary currently features five declared candidates: former U.S. Rep. and 2010 gubernatorial candidate Peter Hoekstra, Michigan Family Forum president Randy Hekman, former American Family Assoc. President Gary Glenn, Cornerstone Schools co-founder Clark Durant, and businessman Chuck Marino. Hoekstra is the frontrunner in this race, but Durant raised $750,000 in the third quarter, making him a formidable opponent.

JAC has supported Stabenow since she first ran for the House in 1996.  Her voting record on Israel, choice and separation of religion and state is perfect.  She is visible and vocal on the issues that you and JAC consider most important.  Her re-election is a priority.

Background

The Census Bureau estimated that Michigan has a population of nearly 10 million people in 2009.  Michigan, once a leader in manufacturing and mass production, has been one of the hardest hit states in the nation as a result of the national recession, resulting in unemployment rates reaching nearly 15% in 2009 and 2010.  Michigan has historically been and continues to be one of the nation’s prime political battlegrounds.  Republicans currently hold the majority of both chambers of the state legislature; with a super-majority in the Michigan House of Representatives.  There are 9 Republican and 6 Democratic U.S. Representatives and both U.S. Senators are Democrats.

About The Candidate

Debbie Stabenow began her political career in graduate school, when she won her first election to the Ingham County Board of Commissioners in 1975. After graduating, she served on the Board while working as a social worker and a leadership-training consultant.  Her political career continued to develop when she was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1979.  Her presence was extremely significant, as she became the first woman to preside over the House.  She served in the House until 1990 and was elected to the Michigan Senate in 1991. 

In 1994, she ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Michigan.  After losing the primary, Congressman Howard Wolpe asked her to be his running mate.  However, they lost to incumbents John Engler and Connie Binsfeld.  In 1996, Stabenow won the election to the U.S. House of Representatives for Michigan’s 6^th District.  Debbie served two terms, before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000. She was considered to be the underdog in the Senate Race in 2000, when she prevailed in the election against incumbent Spencer Abraham.  The first woman in Michigan to be elected to the U.S. Senate, she is a tireless advocate for women’s rights.  Recently, she has concentrated on agricultural and health issues, as the Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.