Bordallo, Madeleine Z. (Madeleine Zeien), 1933-

Madeleine Mary Zeien Bordallo (born May 31, 1933) is a Guamanian politician. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as the Delegate from the United States territory of Guam to the United States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2019.

Born Madeleine Mary Zeien in Graceville, Minnesota, she moved to Guam after her father took a job with the Guam Department of Education. She attended St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana, and the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she studied music. In the 1950s and 1960s, Bordallo was a television presenter for KUAM-TV, the NBC affiliate that was the first television station on Guam. She was married to businessman Ricardo Bordallo in 1953. From 1975 to 1979 and 1983 to 1987, Ricardo Bordallo served as Governor of Guam. While serving as first lady, Madeleine Bordallo worked to emphasize the arts in the classroom and to increase awareness of the local Chamorro culture. Following the death of her husband in 1990, Bordallo ran unsuccessfully for governor of Guam but earned the distinction of being the first woman to head the Democratic ticket. In 1994 she was elected to the first of two consecutive terms as Guam’s first woman lieutenant governor, where she worked to enhance tourism on the island.

After longtime Guam Delegate Robert A. Underwood decided to run for governor back home, Bordallo announced her candidacy for his open seat in Congress. Bordallo easily bested Republican Joseph Ada in the general election. In the House, Bordallo focused on committee work because she did not have a vote on the floor. One of Bordallo’s main legislative priorities was to minimize disparities between Guamanians and mainlanders when it came to government services and political standing. She also worked to ensure that the military buildup on Guam helped her constituents. Her most significant legislative achievement was the passage of her measure authorizing reparations to the survivors and descendants of the victims of the brutal Japanese military occupation of Guam during World War II.

Thanks in part due to accusations that Bordallo had rented her house in Guam to the Japanese government for use as a consulate, violating the emoluments clause of the Constitution, Guamanian Senator Michael San Nicolas defeated her in the Democratic primary with 51 percent of the vote. After leaving office, Bordallo remained in Washington to advocate on behalf of Guam’s government before federal officials.