Elise Stefanik--Youngest Woman Ever Elected to Congress

For all you middle-school presidents, secretaries and treasurers that aspire to lead the country some day, here is some encouraging news - Elise Stefanik, the youngest woman ever to be elected to the US Congress started the same way. The 30-year-old who defeated Democratic incumbent Aaron Woolf in New York's 21st Congressional District in the November 4th midterm elections, began her political career in sixth grade, as student council secretary.--Meera Dolasia

-She was born on July 2, 1984 in Albany, New York
-She went to the Albany Academy of Girls when she was elected the student council secretary.  She was actually able to fulfill her campaign promise with the help of a fellow leader.
-She graduated from Harvard's Institute of Politics in 2006 and was awarded the Women's Leadership Award while there.
-Immediately after graduation, she went to work for George W. Bush's Domestic Policy Council.
-A year later, she joined the office of the White House Chief of Staff.
-After Obama was elected she became the Policy Director for Governor Pawlenty’s Presidential campaign.
-She then worked as Director of Communications for the Foreign Policy Initiative.
-It was there that she helped co-found a group of think tanks called Defending Defense.

-During 2012, she worked for the Republican Party, most notably as the leader of debate preparations for Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan.
-After the election, she returned home to work for her parents' plywood business.
-In 2013, she decided to run for Congress.
-She defeated her Republican primary opponent, and then went on to defeat her Democrat opponent, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.


-She is a young, rising star in the Republican Party.  I am excited to see what she will do when she gets to D.C.

Links:
Elise for Congress
Meet Elise Stefanik

Mia Love--Republican's 1st Black Congresswoman

It’s hard to overstate how unlikely Love’s victory looked on paper. Utah is less than 1 percent black. Though more than 60 percent of the state’s people identify as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the church is just 3 percent black. Love, 38, is one of these few black Mormons — part of a church that, until 1978, didn’t let African Americans participate in all church activities and still hasn’t apologized for its racism.
Yet, a woman born in Brooklyn to Haitian immigrants is now a duly-elected representative of the Beehive State.--Justin Moyer

-Mia Love's path to Congress is truly an inspirational one.  As stated above the odds were against her.

Unlikely Odds:
She is from Utah, which is only 1 percent black
She is a Mormon, when only 3 percent of Mormons are black
She is the first Haitian-American to serve in Congress
She is the first black, Republican woman to serve in Congress

Mayor Love is best known for her conservative positions on limited government, increased citizen liberties and limited restraints on business. She believes the best thing she can do as mayor is stay out of the way of business and out of the lives of citizens. She advocates a return to the personal responsibility and reduced government dependency engendered by her father.--Bio on Mia Love

Biography:
-Love was born on December 6, 1975 in Brooklyn, New York and then moved to Connecticut.
-Her parents emigrated from Haiti in 1973.  They worked hard at numerous jobs to pay for Mia and her siblings to go to school.
-When she went to college, her father said this to her:

Mia, your mother and I never took a handout. You will not be a burden to society. You will give back.

-Her father's quote would help shape her life and philosophy.
-She graduated from the University of Hartford with a fine arts degree in 1998.
-She converted from being a Roman Catholic to a Mormon.
-She then met her husband, Jason Love and they were married in December of 1998.
-In 2003, she was elected to the Saratoga Springs city council.  She served for six years and then was elected Mayor of Saratoga Springs. 
-Love was named one of Ten Republicans to follow on Twitter by the National Journal in August of 2012.

 
-She spoke at the Republican National Convention that same year.
-In August of 2013, she was named one of the Up & Comers in the top 25 Influential Women of the GOP by Newsmax.

During her victory speech after winning the 4th District Congressional seat, she had this to say:

Someone is going to have to turn power back to the people and away from Washington. Tonight you have made history, Love said. This election is historic because we have raised Utah's voice.

-I am excited to see the impact that Mia Love will have in Utah, and on the country as a whole.

Links:
Mia Love for Congress
Utah-4: Mia Love
Love Wins 4th District Congressional Race
25 Most Influential Women of the GOP
Meet Mia Love