Maria Cantwell

**Maria Elaine Cantwell**  (born October 13, 1958) is the junior United States Senator from Washington, serving since 2001. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Cantwell first served in the Washington House of Representatives from 1987 to 1993 and then in the United States House of Representatives from  from 1993 to 1995, after which she worked as an executive for RealNetworks. She is Washington's second female senator, after Patty Murray. She serves as the Ranking Member on the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

While Democrats were in the majority, Cantwell served as Chairwoman of the  Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship from 2014 to 2015 and Chairwoman of the Committee on Indian Affairs from 2013 to 2014.

Upon the February 2017 resignation of Jeff Sessions, Cantwell became the most senior junior Senator.

## Other websites

- Senator Maria Cantwell official U.S. Senate site
- Maria Cantwell for Senate

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Maria Cantwell
- **image**: Maria Cantwell.jpg
- **jr/sr**: United States Senator
- **state**: Washington (state), Washington
- **alongside**: Patty Murray
- **term start**: January 3, 2001
- **predecessor**: Slade Gorton
- **office1**: Chair of the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Senate Commerce Committee
- **term start1**: February 3, 2021
- **predecessor1**: Roger Wicker
- **office2**: Ranking Member of the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Senate Commerce Committee
- **term start2**: January 3, 2019
- **term end2**: February 3, 2021
- **predecessor2**: Bill Nelson
- **successor2**: Roger Wicker
- **office3**: Ranking Member of the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Senate Energy Committee
- **term start3**: January 3, 2015
- **term end3**: January 3, 2019
- **predecessor3**: Lisa Murkowski
- **successor3**: Joe Manchin
- **office4**: Chair of the United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Senate Small Business Committee
- **term start4**: February 12, 2014
- **term end4**: January 3, 2015
- **predecessor4**: Mary Landrieu
- **successor4**: David Vitter
- **office5**: Chair of the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Senate Indian Affairs Committee
- **term start5**: January 3, 2013
- **term end5**: February 12, 2014
- **predecessor5**: Daniel Akaka
- **successor5**: Jon Tester
- **state6**: Washington (state), Washington
- **term start6**: January 3, 1993
- **term end6**: January 3, 1995
- **predecessor6**: John Miller (Washington politician), John Miller
- **successor6**: Rick White (politician), Rick White
- **state house7**: Washington
- **district7**: Position 1, Washington's 44th legislative district, 44th legislative
- **term start7**: January 12, 1987
- **term end7**: January 3, 1993
- **predecessor7**: Jeanine Long
- **successor7**: Jeanine Long
- **birth name**: Maria Ellen Cantwell
- **birth place**: Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
- **party**: Democratic Party (United States), Democratic
- **education**: Miami University (Bachelor of Arts, BA)
- **signature**: Maria Cantwell signature.png
- **parents**: Paul Cantwell (father)