Former Republican Senator Nancy Kassebaum Baker of Kansas, the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate without a prior husband serving in Congress, passed away on Friday at the age of 94. Her son, Bill Kassebaum, informed The Associated Press that she died of natural causes. Kassebaum Baker served in the Senate from 1978 to 1997, representing Kansas for 18 years. She was known for her moderate Republican stance and her willingness to collaborate across party lines, notably co-sponsoring a significant health insurance law with Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy in 1996. During her tenure, she was one of eight women in the Senate and the only woman to chair a Senate committee. Kassebaum Baker won re-election with 76% of the vote in 1984 and 74% in 1990. After leaving the Senate, she continued her public service, including work on a bipartisan commission for campaign finance reform. In her later years, she endorsed several Democratic candidates and called for the impeachment of President Donald Trump following the January 6 Capitol attack. She is remembered for her deep connection to Kansas and her contributions to national politics.
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Former Senator Nancy Kassebaum Baker Dies at 94
Nancy Kassebaum Baker, a former Republican Senator from Kansas, died at the age of 94. She was a pioneering figure as the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate without a husband having previously served in Congress and was known for her moderate views and bipartisan efforts. Kassebaum Baker served in the Senate from 1978 to 1997 and remained active in public service after her tenure.
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Nancy Kassebaum Baker, trailblazing GOP senator who broke barriers for women in Congress, dead at 94
Former Senator Nancy Kassebaum Baker Dies at 94