Women in the United States Congress: 1917-2005

Abstract

[From Summary] A record 83 women serve in the 109th Congress: 69 in the House (46 Democrats and 23 Republicans) and 14 in the Senate (9 Democrats and 5 Republicans). Representative Jeanette Rankin (R-MT, 1917-1919, 1941-1943) was the first woman elected to Congress. Rebecca Latimer Felton (D-GA) was the first woman to serve in the Senate. She was appointed in 1922 and served for only one day. A total of 228 women have served in Congress, 144 Democrats and 84 Republicans. Of these women, 195 have served only in the House; 26 have served only in the Senate; and seven have served in both houses. The figures include one Delegate each from Guam, Hawaii, District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.