Blanche Lincoln facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blanche Lincoln
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Official portrait, 2007
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| United States Senator from Arkansas |
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| In office January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Dale Bumpers |
| Succeeded by | John Boozman |
| Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee | |
| In office September 9, 2009 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Tom Harkin |
| Succeeded by | Debbie Stabenow |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arkansas's 1st district |
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| In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | William Alexander |
| Succeeded by | Marion Berry |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Blanche Meyers Lambert
September 30, 1960 Helena, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Steve Lincoln
(m. 1994) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Mary Lambert (sister) Lincoln family (by marriage) |
| Education | University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Randolph College (BS) |
| Signature |  |
Blanche Lambert Lincoln (born Blanche Meyers Lambert on September 30, 1960) is an American politician. She served as a United States Senator for Arkansas from 1999 to 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
Blanche Lincoln was the first woman elected to the Senate from Arkansas since 1932. She was also the youngest woman ever elected to the Senate at age 38. Before becoming a Senator, she was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 1997.
Lincoln was the first woman and the first person from Arkansas to lead the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. This committee deals with farming, food, and forests. In 2010, she ran for a third term as Senator but lost to Republican John Boozman. Today, she runs her own consulting firm called Lincoln Policy Group.
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Early Life and Education
Blanche Lambert was born in Helena, Arkansas. Her family had lived in Arkansas for many generations. Her father, Jordan Bennett Lambert, was a farmer who grew rice and cotton. Her older sister, Mary Lambert, is a film director.
Blanche went to public schools in Helena. She was the student council president at Central High School from 1977 to 1978. After high school, she attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She later graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College (now Randolph College) in Virginia in 1982. She earned a degree in biology and originally wanted to become a nurse.
After college, Lincoln worked for U.S. Representative Bill Alexander until 1984. She is married to Steve Lincoln, who is a distant relative of former President Abraham Lincoln. Blanche Lincoln is an Episcopalian.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
In 1992, Blanche Lincoln won the Democratic primary election against Bill Alexander. She then won the main election, becoming a member of the United States House of Representatives. Her election happened at the same time as Bill Clinton, also from Arkansas, became President.
In the House, Lincoln was known as a "centrist Democrat." This means she often took middle-ground positions. She supported some laws that were not popular with all Democrats. For example, she voted for the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). She also supported changes to federal employment laws and stricter rules for class action lawsuits and personal bankruptcy. Lincoln also voted for some tax cuts proposed by the Bush administration.
She was reelected for a second term using her married name, Blanche Lincoln. She served in the House until 1997. She decided not to run for reelection in 1996 because she was pregnant.
Serving in the U.S. Senate
First Term in the Senate
In 1998, Lincoln decided to run for the United States Senate. She won the election against Fay Boozman, a Republican.
As a Senator, Lincoln focused on issues important to farmers and people living in rural areas. She helped create the Delta Regional Authority. This group works to help develop the lower Mississippi Delta region.
Second Term in the Senate
In 2004, Lincoln was re-elected as Senator. She won against Republican Jim Holt.
In 2007, Lincoln asked for the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. She felt that the firing of some federal prosecutors had damaged trust between the Justice Department and Congress. Gonzales later resigned.
Lincoln played a big part in creating the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, also known as the "farm bill." This law helps provide money for food, conservation, and rural development. She worked to make sure the bill supported farmers in her state.
In 2007, Lincoln was featured in a documentary called 14 Women. Her older sister, Mary Lambert, directed the film.
In 2009, Lincoln said she would not support a "public health insurance option" in the new health care law. This surprised some Democrats. However, she later voted for the main Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which became the Obama administration's health care reform law. Her votes showed she was a "conservative Democrat" who wanted to appeal to voters in Arkansas. She also opposed a bill that would have made it easier for workers to form unions.
In December 2010, Lincoln missed a vote to repeal "Don't ask, don't tell," a policy that affected gay people in the military. She was late due to a dental appointment but said she would have voted for it. She later voted for the final passage of the bill.
2010 Re-election Campaign
In 2010, Blanche Lincoln ran for re-election. She tried to show voters in Arkansas that she was independent from other Democrats. She first won a tough primary election against Bill Halter. However, she lost the main election to Republican John Boozman by a large margin.
Committees and Groups
In the Senate, Lincoln helped create the Senate Hunger Caucus in 2004. This group works to find solutions for hunger issues in the U.S. and around the world.
She also helped form the Moderate Dems Working Group. This group of moderate Democrats tries to find solutions that both parties can agree on. She also co-founded Third Way, a group that focuses on economic growth, shared values, and clean energy.
Lincoln served on several important committees, including the Senate Finance Committee and the Special Committee on Aging. On September 9, 2009, she became the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. She was the first person from Arkansas and the first woman to lead this committee in its long history.
After Congress
After losing her re-election in 2010, Blanche Lincoln stayed in Washington D.C. She worked as a special policy advisor for a law firm.
In 2011, she became the chair of Small Business for Sensible Regulations. This group helps small businesses deal with government rules.
In July 2013, Lincoln started her own political consulting firm called Lincoln Policy Group. As of 2020, she also advises the RATE Coalition, a group that works to lower corporate tax rates. She has given many speeches to Congress on this topic.
See also
In Spanish: Blanche Lincoln para niños
