Kay Bailey Hutchison

Kathryn Ann Bailey Hutchison, usually known as Kay Bailey Hutchison (born July 22 1943 in Galveston, Texas), is the senior United States Senator from Texas. She is a member of the Republican Party.

Related Topics:
July 22 - 1943 - Galveston, Texas - United States Senator - Texas - Republican Party

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Hutchison grew up in La Marque, Texas. She received her B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1962. She later received her J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin Law School in 1967. Following her graduation from law school, she was the legal and political correspondent for KPRC-TV.

Related Topics:
La Marque, Texas - University of Texas at Austin - 1962 - 1967 - KPRC

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In 1972 Hutchison was elected to the Texas State House of Representatives from Houston, of which she was a member until 1976. She was vice-chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board from 1976 to 1978. She was a candidate for election to the United States House of Representatives in 1982, but was defeated in the primary by Steve Bartlett. She temporarily left politics and became a bank executive and successful businesswoman.

Related Topics:
1972 - 1976 - National Transportation Safety Board - 1978 - United States House of Representatives - 1982 - Steve Bartlett

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Hutchison was elected Texas State Treasurer in 1990 and served until June 1993 when she ran against Senator Bob Krueger for the right to complete the last two years of Lloyd Bentsen's term. Bentsen had resigned in January 1993 to become Secretary of the Treasury in the Clinton administration and Krueger was appointed to fill the seat by Texas Governor Ann Richards until a all-party primary was held in May 1993. Hutchison (29%) and Krueger (30%) emerged from the election and met in a run-off when no candidate had garnered 50% of the vote. Hutchison defeated Krueger in the June 1993 special election run-off garnering 67% of the vote. Hutchison became the first woman to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate.

Related Topics:
1990 - June - 1993 - Bob Krueger - Lloyd Bentsen - Secretary of the Treasury - Clinton - Ann Richards

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Shortly after the special election victory, Travis County authorities, led by district attorney Ronnie Earle, raided Hutchison's offices at the State Treasury looking for proof of allegations that Hutchison used state equipment and employees on state time to help with her campaign. She was indicted by a grand jury in September, 1993 for official misconduct and records tampering. She was acquitted of all charges. Earle tried to withdraw the charges before the trial started due to concerns of what the judge would admit as evidence. However, the judge refused the withdrawal, swore in the jury and made the jury return a "not guilty" verdict so that Hutchison could not be tried again for the same charges.

Related Topics:
Travis County - Ronnie Earle - Grand jury

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Hutchison was re-elected in 1994 (with 61%) and 2000 when she carried 237 of 254 counties (with 65%). More than four million Texans re-elected her to a second full term in 2000 - at the time the largest number of votes ever garnered in the state.

Related Topics:
1994 - 2000

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Since 2001, she has been vice-chairwoman of the Senate Republican Conference (caucus), making her the fourth-ranking Republican in the Senate behind (as of 2005) Majority Leader Bill Frist, Majority Whip Mitch McConnell and conference chairman Rick Santorum. Speculation began in 2004 that Hutchison would run for Governor of Texas in 2006 by challenging current Governor Rick Perry in the Republican primary. However, on June 17, 2005, Hutchison's campaign announced she would seek reelection to the Senate instead. Many observers believe that this all but assures her of reelection to a third term; the Republicans are the dominant party in Texas and Hutchison is highly popular. McConnell had suggested that Hutchison would become conference chairwoman in 2007.

Related Topics:
2001 - Bill Frist - Mitch McConnell - Rick Santorum - 2004 - Governor of Texas - 2006 - Rick Perry - Republican - Primary - June 17 - 2007

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Committees: Appropriations; Commerce, Science and Transportation; Rules and Administration; Veterans' Affairs

Related Topics:
Appropriations - Commerce, Science and Transportation - Rules and Administration - Veterans' Affairs

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In June of 2000, she and her colleagues coauthored Nine and Counting: The Women of the Senate, and she recently wrote her newest book in 2004 entitled, American Heroines: The Spirited Women Who Shaped Our Country.

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She has two children with husband Ray Hutchison.

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