With her election this November to the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona’s 8th district, Gabrielle Giffords ’93 starts her Congressional career with a series of impressive firsts: the first woman to represent Arizona in Congress in more than a decade, the first Democrat to win the Tucson-area district in more than 20 years — and the first Scripps College alumna elected to national office.
Soon to be one of the youngest House members on Capitol Hill, Giffords is a self-described moderate, pro-business Democrat. Her interest in public service was fostered during her year spent in Chihuahua, Mexico, as a Fulbright Scholarship recipient. As a student at Scripps College, Giffords studied Latin American history and sociology. Giffords later attended Cornell University to earn her master’s degree in regional planning.
Giffords launched a career in politics after returning to her hometown of Tucson in 1996 to become president and CEO of her family’s tire business. During her service in both the Arizona House and Senate, Giffords worked on legislation to expand health care coverage for Arizona families, create and attract high wage jobs to the state, and protect environment and open spaces. She also served on the Governor’s Commission on the Health Status of Women and the Children’s Caucus. Fluent in Spanish, Gabrielle is also active with the Arizona-Mexico Commission.
To read Gabrielle’s victory speech, visit her election website.