On May 7, Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) was sworn in to replace Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), who resigned in December 2017. Rep. Lesko’s election keeps the number of women serving in the House of Representatives during the 115th Congress at 89; Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) passed away on March 16. To date, there are 112 women serving in Congress, including five delegates from American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 23 women Senators.
Rep. Lesko previously was elected to the Arizona State House; she served as minority whip during her tenure. She was elected to the State Senate in 2014, where she served as president pro tempore. Prior to her election to public office, Rep. Lesko ran a construction sales business. Education, immigration reform, and taxes are likely to be among her key priorities in Congress.
