Landrieu, << LAN droo, >> Mary Loretta (1955-…), served as a member of the United States Senate from 1997 to 2015. Landrieu, a Democrat, represented Louisiana.
As a senator, Landrieu focused on issues related to education, such as funding the Head Start program, getting more computers into school classrooms, and creating tax credits for middle-class families with students in college. On such issues as abortion, the environment, gun control, and immigration reform, Landrieu sided with conservatives on some bills and with liberals on others.
Landrieu was born in Arlington, Virginia, on Nov. 23, 1955. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University in 1977. She has worked as a real estate broker, specializing in townhouse developments.
From 1979 to 1987, Landrieu served in the Louisiana state Legislature. She was state treasurer of Louisiana from 1987 to 1995. She ran for governor of Louisiana in 1995 but lost. In 1996, she ran for the U.S. Senate and won. She took office in 1997.
In 2002, Landrieu ran for reelection against eight other candidates. She received the most votes but failed to win more than 50 percent of the vote. As a result, a runoff election was necessary between Landrieu and the candidate with the second highest number of votes, Louisiana Commissioner of Elections Suzanne H. Terrell. Landrieu defeated Terrell in the runoff election. Landrieu was reelected again in 2008. In 2014, Republican Bill Cassidy defeated Landrieu in her bid for reelection.
