Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) on Diversity in Politics

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) is currently serving her second term. Previously, Shaheen served in the New Hampshire Senate and as New Hampshire’s governor. She is the only woman to have been elected both a governor and a U.S. senator.
Harvard Political Review: Currently, there are 20 women, two African Americans, one Asian American, and three Hispanic Americans in the Senate. How can we make the Senate a body more representative of America’s diversity?
Jeanne Shaheen: Well, that’s up to the voters. Hopefully, there will be more people running and voters will have more choices. It’s difficult, I think, because of the amount of money in politics to get more people with diverse backgrounds to run. My experience as a woman has been that it takes women longer to reach positions of power because we’re newer to politics, and I think that’s probably true of African Americans it’s true of Latinos when you think about what the history of our country has been. But, what we want is to have a Congress that reflects the American people and that means we need more diversity.
HPR: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming address to a joint meeting of Congress has created division within Democratic leadership. President Obama, Vice President Biden, Senator Sanders (I-Vt.), and Senator Leahy (D-Vt.) are among those who are skipping the speech, whereas Senator Schumer (D-Ny.) is urging Democrats to attend the speech. Why have you decided to attend Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address?
JS: I think it’s important. I’m not happy about the way the invitation was granted and the fact that it’s coming in the middle of this election in Israel. That has not been generally the protocol for somebody who is in the middle of an election to come and speak to Congress. But, we have a critical relationship with Israel and the United States, and I think it’s important to go and hear what Prime Minister Netanyahu has to say. It’s especially important as we look at being in the middle of negotiations with Iran on their nuclear program because Israel has an important perspective on that; I think it’s important for us and America to hear.
HPR: Do you think way Speaker Boehner invited the Prime Minister undermines President Obama’s authority?
JS: Well, I wouldn’t say that. But, I do think it was unfortunate the way it was handled.
HPR: As a second term senator yourself, why or why not do you think senators and congressmen should have term limits as does the President?
JS: I don’t think we should have term limits. I think the voters are very good about deciding when they want to change the person who represents them. We’ve seen it in the New Hampshire first congressional district that’s switched hands twice in the last two elections. So, I think the voters can make that determination and they do on a regular basis.
This interview has been edited and condensed.

Image credit: United States Congress