Hassan, Margaret Wood

Margaret Wood Hassan represents New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate as a Democrat and serves as ranking member of the Joint Economic Committee and the Senate Health Care Subcommittee. As ranking member, Hassan leads the Democratic opposition on these committees, shaping their investigative priorities and legislative agenda. The Joint Economic Committee analyzes economic trends and advises Congress on fiscal policy, while the Health Care Subcommittee oversees healthcare delivery, costs, and access. In these roles, Hassan influences which issues receive committee attention and how Democrats respond to majority proposals.

Hassan brings substantial legal and executive experience to her committee work. She practiced corporate law for over a decade before serving as associate general counsel at Brigham and Women's Hospital, giving her expertise in healthcare systems and business operations. She served in the New Hampshire state senate from 2005 to 2010, including as majority leader, before being elected governor in 2012 and reelected in 2014. Her executive experience managing a state government and her legal background in healthcare and corporate matters directly inform her work on economic and health policy.

As a senator since 2017, Hassan has focused on healthcare affordability, worker protections, and family economic security. She has sponsored legislation including the Medication Affordability and Patent Integrity Act, the Child Care Tax Benefit Outreach and Assistance Act, and the Stronger Start for Working Families Act, reflecting her committee priorities. She also serves on the Senate Finance Committee, which handles taxation and revenue, and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, positioning her as a key Democratic voice on interconnected economic and social policy issues.

Hassan narrowly won her 2016 Senate race against Republican incumbent Kelly Ayotte by roughly 1,000 votes and was reelected in 2022. She is one of only three women in U.S. history elected to serve as both governor and U.S. senator. She serves alongside fellow former governor Jeanne Shaheen and is expected to become New Hampshire's senior senator when Shaheen retires in 2027.