Kay Bailey Hutchison (born July 22, 1943 in Galveston, Texas), is the senior United States Senator from Texas. She is a member of the Republican Party. Hutchison grew up in La Marque, Texas. She received her B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1962, where she was a cheerleader. She later received her J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin Law School in 1967. Following her graduation from law school, she was the legal and political correspondent for KPRC-TV in Houston.
In 1972 Hutchison was elected to the Texas State House of Representatives from a district in Houston, of which she was a member until 1976. She was vice-chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board from 1976 to 1978. She was a candidate for election to the United States House of Representatives in 1982 for the Dallas-based 3rd District, but was defeated in the primary by Steve Bartlett. She temporarily left politics and became a bank executive and successful businesswoman.
