Jessica Han

Preceded by
 **In office**
 Preceded by
 Succeeded by
 **In office**
 Preceded by
 Succeeded by
 **In office**
 Preceded by
 Succeeded by
 Born
April 12, 1963 (age 44)
 Political party
 Spouse(s)
 Education
 Website

**Jessica Han** (*née* **Park**; born April 12, 1963) is an American politician and lawyer currently serving as the Junior Senator from New Jersey. Han previously served as Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2000 and as a State Senator from 1990 to 1994. She is the first American citizen in her family's history and a graduate of the University of Virginia. She is married to David Han and has three children with him.

## Early Life and Education

Jessica Han was born April 12, 1963 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey to Yujun Park (b. 1932) and Sang-hee "Sally" Park (b. 1937). Her parents were Korean immigrants living in the United States on a green card when she was born and had a second daughter named Alexis Moon on September 27, 1965, two years after Han was born. After graduating from her hometown's local high school in 1979, Han attended the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She studied Entrepreneurial Law and Political Science, graduating in 1985 with a Master's Degree in the former.

## Early Career

A few months after graduating from UVA, Han joined a law firm in Morristown, New Jersey and met David Han (b. 1960). The two married on May 18, 1987. Han gave birth to Kaitlin- the first of their three daughters- on February 6, 1989. At the urging of her husband, Han left the law firm and ran for State Senate in 1989, winning with a comfortable 55.6% of the vote. Han had her other two daughters- Abigail in August of 1990 and Catherine in May of 1992- while serving, making her the first State Senator to give birth while in office. Since she was one of the more notable voices in Trenton, Han decided to run for Governor in 1993.

## Governor of New Jersey (1994-2000)

Han won the 1993 Gubernatorial Election with 49.7% of the vote in a state Bill Clinton won comfortably just one year ago and defeated the incumbent Governor, James Florio. Han's victory made a lot of firsts as she became New Jersey's first Asian-American governor, the state's first Republican female governor, and the youngest governor in the state's history. Having been elected alongside a Republican legislature, Han was able to accomplish most of her campaign agenda. She decreased the state's property tax, cut regulations on small businesses put in place by previous governors, allowed private schools to operate with less state supervision, and implemented a series of environmental management programs designed to protect the state's natural land in her first term. Entering the general election as a popular incumbent, Han won re-election to a second term in 1997 and defeated Jim McGreevey, her Democratic challenger, with 52.4% of the vote. During her second term, Han pushed for and signed a comprehensive bill to end discrimination in housing and further reduce the state's property tax by an additional 3%. Han also signed bills that expanded or created several tax credits, created the position of Lieutenant Governor- to which she appointed Christine Todd Whitman-, established a "Hire Veterans" program, required a nonpartisan commission to draw New Jersey's districts, and tie the minimum wage to inflation after increasing it. Although a bill to establish maternity and paid sick leave in the state got little Republican support, it passed both chambers of the legislature and Han signed it. On February 17, 2000, Han announced her bid to replace the retiring Frank Lautenberg as Senator.

## United States Senator (2001-Present)

After defeating CEO Jon Corzine with 49.3% of the vote to become the first Republican elected to the United States Senate from New Jersey since 1972, Han resigned as Governor on December 20. On January 3, Han was sworn in as the first Asian and the first female Senator from New Jersey. And though she's only a freshman Senator, Han was able to pass four major reform bills. By January of 2002, Han's healthcare, tax, school, and infrastructure reforms passed both houses of Congress with substantial support from both parties and were signed into law by President George Dixon. Han served as a moderate Republican during her first term in the Senate, supporting conservative fiscal policies and maintaining her pledge to not change any laws regarding social issues. In addition to opposing resolutions, bills, and amendments to make same-sex marriage illegal, Han voted against the Iraq war. She was later selected as one of the five Republicans to serve on the nine-member Senate Iraq War Investigation committee. However, since no hearings were held under the leadership of Senator Gary Johnson, Han was appointed chair in 2004. At the end of the committee, she authored a report that urged President Dixon to reverse his firing of Robert Mueller and committed the Senate to opening two more investigatory committees on Iraq. The resolution passed with a 46-45 vote, but the committees were never established.

Han won re-election with 53.2% of the vote against Congressman Bob Menendez in 2006. Even as Democrats took back control of Congress, Han won with her largest statewide margin of victory.