Linda Strode

Linda Marie Strode (née Beaubeirdre; born June 3, 1937) is an American politician who is serving as the 49th speaker of the United States House of Representatives. She was first elected to serve as Speaker in 1997. A member of the New Democratic Party, she was the second woman elected Speaker. She has represented Montclair's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 1995.

Strode was born and raised in Salem. She graduated from Harvard University, in 1961 and married electrician Paul Strode 7 years later; the two had met when Strode's father, Jack, contracted Paul to work at his hotel. They remained in Salem to begin raising their son and their daughter. She was first elected to Congress in a 1995 special election and is now in her 5th term. Strode rose through the ranks of the House New Democratic Caucus to be elected Speaker of the House in 1997 just two years after she was first elected to Congress.

Strode has also chaired the New Democrats Congressional Campaign Committee and has held on to a solid majority in Congress, every Congress since she has been chair.

Early Life and Education
Linda Strode was born in Salem, Massachusetts. She was an only child of Beth Beaubeirdre and Jack Beaubeirdre. Her mother was born in Salem, Massachusetts and resided there her entire life; her father was born in Munich, Germany and fled the country with his family shortly before the start of World War II. Strode's parents met on a ship heading to America, and married shortly after. When Strode was born, her father was working at a hotel in Massachusetts. He eventually became the owner of that same hotel. Strode's mother was was a teacher.

In 1961, Strode graduated from the Harvard University, and Harvard Law.

Pre-Congressional Career
Strode began her work at a law firm in 1965. She grew the ranks but due to her being a woman she was unable to become a partner per company policy. She departed from the law firm in 1990 to become owner of her father's hotel following his death.

Tenure
Strode was elected to serve as a Representative from Montclair's 1st Congressional District in a 1995 special election. She served as one of three New Democrats in Congress. In the 104th Congress, the New Democrats were able to narrowly take the majority under Strode's leadership of the New Democratic congressional campaign. She was elected to serve as Speaker of the House and has been the incumbent since then.

While serving as Speaker, Strode has named her top priorities on abortion, gun rights, and the environment. She also successfully survived an attempt to remove her as Speaker brought up in the 104th Congress.

1995 Special Election
Linda Strode announced her bid for the 1995 special election in 1995. She was the only candidate to make it on the ballot and gained national attention for suing the United States and various state governments for their restrictive abortion laws in Strode v. United States, Bluegrass and Sequoia. She won with 100% of the vote having run unopposed.

1996 Election
Linda Strode won a full term to the House of Representatives in the 1996 election cycle, having run unopposed yet again. She was elected Speaker of the House in the following Congress.

1998 Election
Linda Strode won a third term to Congress having ran unopposed yet again,

2000 Election
Linda Strode showed she was a force of power for the New Democratic party having successfully won four elections unopposed and remained Speaker of the House the entire time. She subsequently served as chair of the New Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in which she worked hard to keep her majority and gain seats.

2002 Election
Linda Strode won a 5th term running unopposed.

2004 Election
Linda Strode ran for a 6th term, declining to run for President. Michael Jordan, a republican filed to run for the seat earlier on, however he withdrew his filing following Strode filing to run for re-election. The Republicans were eyeing her seat and ousting the Speaker however they failed to find any candidate to file on time.

2006 Election

For the first time in her career, she faced an opponent in Doctor Dell Kinsley. The race quickly became one of the most expensive during the midterms yet the race was never viewed as contested due to Montclair's solid blue leaning. Over $20 million dollars were spent on the race.