Courtesy U.S. Senate Historical Office

LANDRIEU, Mary L., a Senator from Louisiana; born in Arlington, Va., November 23, 1955; graduated from Ursuline Academy, New Orleans, and Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 1977; member, Louisiana house of representatives 1980-1988; Louisiana state treasurer 1988-1996; unsuccessful candidate for Democratic gubernatorial nomination 1995; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1996; reelected in 2002, and again in 2008; and served from January 3, 1997, to January 3, 2015; was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 2014; chair, Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (One Hundred Eleventh to One Hundred Thirteenth Congresses [January 3, 2009-February 12, 2014]), Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (One Hundred Thirteenth Congress [February 12, 2014-January 3, 2015]).