Lummis, Cynthia M. (Cynthia Marie), 1954-

<p>Cynthia Marie Lummis Wiederspahn (/ˈlʌmɪs/ LUMM-iss; born September 10, 1954) is an American politician and attorney serving as the junior United States Senator from Wyoming. She is the first woman to represent Wyoming in the Senate. A member of the Republican Party, she served as the U.S. Representative for Wyoming's at-large congressional district from 2009 to 2017. Before joining Congress, she served as a State Representative (1979–83, 1985–93), State Senator (1993–95), and State Treasurer (1999–2007). She did not seek reelection to the House of Representatives in 2016, and defeated Democratic nominee Merav Ben-David for the U.S. Senate in 2020.</p>

<p>Lummis is one of four children born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Doran Lummis and the former Enid Bennett (1928–2013). After high school, she enrolled in the University of Wyoming in Laramie, obtaining two Bachelor of Science degrees, one in animal science in 1976 and one in biology in 1978. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Wyoming in 1985 and clerked for the Wyoming Supreme Court.</p>

<p>Lummis began her political career as the acting director of the Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments.</p>

<p>Lummis was a member of the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1979 to 1983 and from 1985 to 1993. She was a member of the Wyoming Senate from 1993 to 1995.</p>

<p>From 1995 to 1997 she served as general counsel to Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer.</p>

<p>Cynthia Lummis was sworn into the United States Senate on January 3, 2021, becoming the first woman to serve as United States Senator from the great State of Wyoming.</p>

<p>Born on a cattle ranch in Laramie County, Senator Lummis has spent her entire career fighting for Wyoming families, communities, businesses and values. From the halls of the Wyoming House to the halls of the U.S. House, her time in public service has always been focused on advocating for Wyoming’s future.</p>

<p>First elected to the U.S. House in 2008, Senator Lummis quickly earned her reputation as a no-nonsense conservative and principled policymaker. She was a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, a group consisting of the most unflinching conservative Members of the House of Representatives. She fought throughout her tenure in Congress to rein in spending and reduce the federal deficit, working with the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and ultimately co-sponsoring several bipartisan budget proposals.</p>