Maggie Hassan

Who is Maggie Hassan?

Margaret "Maggie" Hassan is an American politician who is the 81st and current Governor of New Hampshire. A member of the Democratic Party, Hassan was elected Governor in 2012 and was sworn into office on January 3, 2013.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Hassan is the graduate of Brown University, earning her J.D. from the Northeastern University School of Law. After passing the bar, Hassan began her career entering private practice after graduating from college in 1985. She later became an associate counsel at Brigham and Women's Hospital and reentered private practice in New Hampshire. After losing an initial run for the New Hampshire State Senate in 2002, Hassan was elected to the New Hampshire Senate in 2004. She was elected to a total of three two-year terms, representing the New Hampshire's 23rd district from January 2005 to December 2010. Hassan became the Minority Leader in the State Senate in 2008 before losing reelection 2010.

After incumbent Governor John Lynch announced he would not be running for reelection, Hassan declared her candidacy for Governor in October 2011. Hassan defeated former State Senator Jacalyn Cilley in the Democratic primary and faced attorney and Republican nominee Ovide M. Lamontagne in the general election, where she won with 55% of the vote; becoming the second woman to be elected to the office, after fellow Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. Since becoming Governor, Hassan was elected Vice Chair of the Democratic Governors Association in December 2013.