Maggie's List is a Federal Political Action Committee created to raise awareness and funds to increase the number of conservative women elected to federal public office. Maggie's List was founded in 2010 by a group of women with a fiscally conservative economic vision and led by Sandra B. Mortham, former Florida Secretary of State.
In 2011, women held 90, or just 16.8 percent, of the 535 seats in the 112th U.S. Congress; including 17 (12 D, 5R) of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate and 73 (49D, 24R) of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives. (Source: Center for American Women in Politics).
Check out this Fast Facts page to see how Women are under-representated at every level of government and executive office.
Read more about the Maggie's List Board of Directors, Founders and Trustees.
"As fiscal conservatives, we look for candidates who will avoid deficit spending, reduce overall government spending and national debt and ensure a balanced budget."
- Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins, Second District of Kansas
Maggie's List is named after Margaret Chase Smith, who became the first woman elected to both houses of Congress (US House 1940-1948; US Senate 1948-1972). Known as "the lady of Maine," she was also the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for the presidency, coming in second to the Republican nominee, Senator Barry Goldwater in 1964. A trailblazer who served on the Appropriations and Armed Services panels and a crusader for free speech, Margaret Chase Smith was one of the first to oppose Senator Joseph McCarthy and represents one of the earliest and most enduring female voices in American political life.
