DelBene, Suzan, 1962-

<p>Suzan Kay DelBene (née Oliver; /ˌdɛlˈbɛneɪ/ DELL-BENN-ay; born February 17, 1962) is an American politician and businesswoman who has been the United States Representative from Washington's 1st congressional district since 2012.</p>

<p>DelBene was the 2010 Democratic nominee for U.S. Representative for Washington's 8th congressional district and narrowly lost to incumbent Republican Dave Reichert. In 2012 she won the general election in Washington's redrawn 1st district against Republican John Koster, while simultaneously winning the election for the remainder of the term in the 1st district under the pre-2012 boundaries, a seat left vacant by the resignation of Jay Inslee.</p>

<p>She chairs the New Democrat Coalition, the second-largest ideological caucus.</p>

DELBENE, Suzan K., a Representative from Washington; born in Selma, Dallas County, Ala., February 17, 1962; B.A., Reed College, Portland, Oreg., 1983; M.B.A., University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., 1990; business executive; unsuccessful candidate for election to the One Hundred Twelfth Congress in 2010; director, Washington state department of revenue, 2010-2012; elected simultaneously as a Democrat to the One Hundred Twelfth and One Hundred Thirteenth Congresses, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of United States Representative Jay Inslee, and reelected to the four succeeding Congresses (November 6, 2012-present).

<p>Congresswoman Suzan DelBene represents Washington’s 1st Congressional District, which spans from northeast King County to the Canadian border and includes parts of King, Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom counties.</p>

<p>First sworn into the House of Representatives in November 2012, Suzan brings a unique voice to the nation’s capital with more than two decades of experience as a successful technology entrepreneur and business leader.</p>

<p>Suzan takes on a wide range of challenges both in Congress and in the 1st District and is a leader on issues of technology, health care, trade, taxes, environmental conservation, and agriculture.</p>