Jeanne Shaheen is a leader committed to strengthening New Hampshire middle class families and small businesses.

Although neither of Jeanne's parents graduated from college, her father worked his way up to a management position in the shoe manufacturing business and her mother worked as a secretary in their local church. They instilled in their daughter the values of determination and hard work that have guided her throughout her life, whether working a summer job in a shoe factory or devoting herself to public service. After attending public schools, Jeanne received a bachelor's degree from Shippensburg University and a master's degree from the University of Mississippi.

In 1996, Jeanne became the first woman elected Governor of New Hampshire.

A champion of middle class families, she helped make college more affordable through a tax-free college tuition savings plan, the Granite State Scholars program, and greater state support for public universities and community colleges. Jeanne’s kindergarten initiative has made public kindergarten a reality for nearly 16,000 additional children and the innovative children’s health insurance program she launched has extended affordable health coverage to tens of thousands of New Hampshire children. And when the recession hit New Hampshire in 2002, she successfully fought to increase state unemployment benefits for laid-off workers.

Jeanne’s focus on the economy led to the creation of nearly 67,000 new jobs during her six years as Governor and the third-highest high tech employment in the nation. A former small business owner, Jeanne Shaheen understands that small businesses are the backbone of the New Hampshire economy. Governor Shaheen signed into law legislation creating a more favorable tax environment for venture capital, encouraging investment in start-up small businesses. Jeanne Shaheen successfully fought for legislation to create a permanent training fund that helps businesses upgrade the skills of their current employees and train new employees. She invested wisely in promoting the state's second largest industry, tourism. Understanding that for New Hampshire’s middle class to prosper we must be able to compete in an increasingly global economy, she was the first New Hampshire Governor to lead a trade mission outside of North America. The trade missions she led generated more than $500 million in projected sales for New Hampshire businesses and the state’s International Trade Resource Center has helped open world markets for dozens of New Hampshire businesses. And Governor Shaheen proposed balanced budgets and insisted on fiscal discipline, enabling the state to nearly triple its Rainy Day Fund.

Never afraid to stand up to powerful interests, Jeanne Shaheen took on the utilities and led the fight to bring competition to the electric industry. She stood up to the insurance industry, first as a State Senator, when she championed legislation to prevent premium discrimination against small businesses that employ sick or older workers, and then as Governor, when she pushed through her HMO Accountability Act.

Governor Shaheen brought Republicans and Democrats together to pass the Clean Power Act, first-in-the-nation legislation reducing power plant emissions, and the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program, which has helped preserve 250,000 acres of open space and 88 historic places. Energy efficiency programs initiated by the Shaheen administration have saved New Hampshire families and businesses almost $400 million.

Jeanne Shaheen understands the world we live in. As Governor, she led trade missions to England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Mexico and Canada, including the first trade mission from the United States to Canada following September 11th. As an election monitor for the National Democratic Institute, Jeanne Shaheen has monitored elections in Nigeria, Armenia and the Middle East.

Jeanne has been involved in all levels of New Hampshire life. She has taught in a New Hampshire high school. She was chair of Madbury's zoning board and co-chair of the New Hampshire Commission on the Status of Women. She was the co-founder of Somersworth's International Children's Festival and director of two successful New Hampshire presidential primary campaigns. She and her husband, Bill, live in Madbury, New Hampshire, and have three daughters, Stefany, Stacey and Molly, and six grandchildren.

In 2005 she took on the challenge of forging a new generation of public leaders when she became the Director of Harvard University’s Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government. Unwilling to sit back while Washington betrays middle class families, Jeanne left the Institute of Politics in September 2007 to run for the United States Senate. Jeanne Shaheen will be a Senator the people of New Hampshire can count on.