66 Facts About Debbie Stabenow

Deborah Ann Stabenow is an American politician who served from 2001 to 2025 as a United States senator from Michigan.

Debbie Stabenow was reelected to Senate in 2006,2012, and 2018.

Debbie Stabenow became the state's senior US senator upon Carl Levin's retirement in 2015.

Debbie Stabenow chaired the Senate Agriculture Committee from 2011 to 2015 and again since 2021.

Debbie Stabenow became chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee in 2017.

At the start of the 118th Congress, Debbie Stabenow became the dean of the Michigan congressional delegation, upon the retirement of Representative Fred Upton.

Debbie Stabenow was born in Gladwin, Michigan, the daughter of Anna Merle and Robert Lee Greer.

Debbie Stabenow graduated from Clare High School, where she was president of her junior class, the first female class president at the school.

Debbie Stabenow won her first election in November 1974, becoming just the third woman elected to the Ingham County Board of Commissioners, on which she served from 1975 to 1978.

Debbie Stabenow was the first woman and youngest person to date to chair the board of commissioners in 1977 and 1978.

Debbie Stabenow was preceded as chair by one of her political mentors, Ken Hope.

Debbie Stabenow was instrumental in establishing a women's commission in Ingham County.

In 1978, Debbie Stabenow challenged Michigan State Representative Tom Holcomb in a primary election.

Debbie Stabenow won the primary and eventually the general election for the 58th House District.

Debbie Stabenow served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1979 to 1990.

Debbie Stabenow became a force in state Democratic politics and the first woman in House leadership to preside over the House.

In 1990, Stabenow ran for the Michigan Senate seat being vacated by William A Sederburg.

Debbie Stabenow won the election, taking office in 1991 and serving one term through 1994.

In 1994, Debbie Stabenow ran in Michigan's Democratic gubernatorial primary to challenge incumbent Republican John Engler in the general election.

Debbie Stabenow did not seek reelection to the House in 2000, choosing instead to challenge incumbent Republican US Senator Spencer Abraham.

Debbie Stabenow was challenged by Republican Michael Bouchard, Oakland County sheriff and former State Senate Majority Floor Leader.

Debbie Stabenow is the first person to have served as a Michigan state legislator to be popularly elected to the US Senate.

Debbie Stabenow became the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate on November 16,2004, when she was elected secretary of the Democratic caucus.

In November 2006, Reid announced that Debbie Stabenow would leave the caucus secretary position to succeed Hillary Clinton as chair of the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, charged with "engag[ing] Democratic Senators and community leaders across the country in an active dialogue".

Debbie Stabenow became chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee in 2011, following the defeat of Blanche Lincoln.

Debbie Stabenow was participating in the certification of the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count when Trump supporters attacked the United States Capitol.

The day after the attack, Debbie Stabenow called for Trump's immediate removal from office through the invocation of the 25th Amendment or impeachment.

Debbie Stabenow supported Michigan Proposal 1 in 2018 to legalize cannabis for recreational use, though she would like to ensure law enforcement is involved so that the law is implemented correctly.

In 2013, Greg Kaufmann of The Nation wrote an article stating that Debbie Stabenow was prepared to cut $8 to $9 billion from the food stamp program.

In 2017, Debbie Stabenow fought to prevent the creation of additional work-requirement rules on SNAP recipients who were older or had smaller children and led a bipartisan effort to get the legislation passed.

In October 2002, Debbie Stabenow was one of 23 senators who voted against authorization of the use of military force in Iraq.

Debbie Stabenow secured $100 million to repair and replace the water lines in Flint, Michigan, which were contaminating the drinking water with lead.

Debbie Stabenow pushed to include a program that would provide fresh fruits and vegetables to Flint children as part of the Farm Bill.

Debbie Stabenow received low scores from free-market groups and high scores from fiscally liberal groups.

In 2007, Senator Debbie Stabenow joined the bipartisan support of NOPEC in order to combat conspiratorial policies by foreign oil producers, extending Sherman Anti-Trust Act protection to include foreign cartels such as OPEC, and bring down US oil and gas costs for US consumers.

In 2009, Debbie Stabenow voted for President Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus plan.

In October 2011, Debbie Stabenow called for tax breaks for firms developing bio-based products, using crops like soybeans and corn to create prescriptions drugs, plastics, and soaps.

In 2017, Debbie Stabenow introduced her American Jobs Agenda, which included two acts: the Make It In America Act and the Bring Jobs Home Act.

Debbie Stabenow said they had "reached a bipartisan agreement that funds children's health insurance and moves us closer to a solution that provides long-term certainty for Michigan families and our national defense".

Debbie Stabenow voted against providing COVID-19 pandemic financial support to undocumented immigrants on February 4,2021.

Debbie Stabenow supported Obama's Iran deal that sought to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons for 10 years and attempted to halt their uranium production.

Debbie Stabenow received low scores from low-spending advocates.

In 2011, Debbie Stabenow introduced the Reengaging Americans in Serious Education Act, whereby the Labor Department would fund programs to help "disconnected youth" get diplomas, degrees, and job certifications.

Debbie Stabenow blamed the National Rifle Association of America for the bills' failure to pass.

In 2017, following the Las Vegas shooting, Stabenow and Debbie Dingell introduced a law that would make it illegal for people convicted of misdemeanor stalking to buy guns.

Debbie Stabenow has an "A+" rating from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and an "F" rating from both the NRA and the Gun Owners of America.

Debbie Stabenow had helped open 10 community health centers in Detroit while in office.

Debbie Stabenow received high scores from Planned Parenthood and low scores from National Right to Life Committee,.

Debbie Stabenow sponsored S 2257, the Excellence in Mental Health Act.

In December 2011, Debbie Stabenow voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.

Debbie Stabenow has added her amendment to three others intended to hamstring the Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of carbon polluters.

Debbie Stabenow's proposed amendment to keep the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions for two years drew criticism.

In 2010, Debbie Stabenow called for a total ban on drilling in the Great Lakes.

In May 2017, Debbie Stabenow expressed support for the bipartisan effort to retain funding for The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Debbie Stabenow had previously introduced legislation in the Senate intended to reduce the dumping of Canadian trash in Michigan.

In July 2006, the Senate unanimously passed a law sponsored by Debbie Stabenow requiring the payment of a $420 inspection fee for every truckload of Canadian trash brought into Michigan.

Debbie Stabenow is probably the most prominent politician to seriously support a new Fairness Doctrine.

Debbie Stabenow has been criticized because this amendment aided Monsanto and other agribusinesses, which donated over three-quarters of a million dollars to her campaign during that election cycle.

On January 5,2023, Debbie Stabenow announced her intention to retire from the Senate.

Debbie Stabenow's announcement cited a desire to "pass the torch" to Michigan's next generation of leadership: "I have always believed it's not enough to be the first unless there is a second and a third".

Debbie Stabenow noted time with family as a motivation for her retirement.

Debbie Stabenow's portrait came due to her years as chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

In 2003, Debbie Stabenow married Tom Athans, co-founder of Democracy Radio and former executive vice president of Air America.

Debbie Stabenow had a cameo appearance in the 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as governor of the unspecified state in which Metropolis is located.

Debbie Stabenow was invited to appear because the scene was filmed in Michigan, and for her support for film-industry incentives.

In 2024, Debbie Stabenow declined to run for a fifth Senate term, citing a wish to spend more time with her family, including her 96-year-old mother.