Hahn, Janice, 1952-

Janice Kay Hahn (born March 30, 1952) is an American teacher, business executive, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, she has served on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors representing the 4th district since 2016. She was previously a U.S. Representative from California's 36th and 44th congressional districts from 2011 to 2016, a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 15th district from 2001 to 2011, and an elected representative on the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission from 1997 to 1999.

Born in Los Angeles and raised in a politically involved family, she graduated from Los Angeles Lutheran High School in 1970, and briefly attended Pepperdine University before transferring to Abilene Christian University in Texas where she graduated in 1974 with a degree in education. She taught at a private religious school from 1974 to 1978. Hahn married Gary Don Baucum; the two later divorced. In the mid-1990s, she became a public affairs regional manager for Southern California Edison Company and later a vice president for Prudential Securities. Beginning in the 1990s, Hahn began building a political career in local government. Her first campaign for the Los Angeles city council in 1993 was unsuccessful, but she was elected to the city charter reform commission in 1997. A year later, she challenged incumbent Republican Congressman Steven T. Kuykendall for a seat in the House, narrowly losing to him, 49 percent to 47 percent. In 2000 Hahn won election to the Los Angeles city council, representing Watts and San Pedro. During her 10-year career on the council, she gained a reputation as a defender of worker rights, the environment, and an advocate for the poor.

After falling short in her bid to become lieutenant governor and mulling a bid for the California state senate, Hahn elected to run for the 36th district seat held by Jane Harman after Harman announced her resignation from the House in early 2011. Hahn was one of sixteen candidates from all parties who competed in the special election primary in May 2011, advancing to the runoff election in July, winning by a nine-point margin. She retained her seat in the House in 2012, when she was redistricted to the 44th district and pitted against fellow Democrat Laura Richardson, and 2014, where she received nearly 90 percent of the vote.

In the House, Hahn joined the Congressional Progressive Caucus and voted with the liberal wing of her party. She supported labor unions and promised to work toward reducing U.S. military commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hahn also wanted to see an immigration reform package that included a path to citizenship for undocumented residents. When she first arrived in Congress, Hahn was enthusiastic about legislating and making a difference. However, Hahn realized soon enough that the polarizing nature of Congress made it difficult to bring about meaningful, bipartisan solutions.

Frustrated with the gridlock, Hahn ran for an open seat on the Los Angeles county board of supervisors in 2016. A position on the county board would give Hahn a remarkable amount of power overseeing one of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas. Hahn’s father had been a longtime supervisor—the board met in a building named after him—and combined with her experience on the city council and in Washington, she emerged as the early front-runner. Hahn won election to the board and resigned from the House on December 4, 2016.