Jackie Speier to be Sworn In to Congress

Following an overwhelming victory in Tuesday’s special election, Jackie Speier will be sworn into the US House of Representatives today. Speier won 77 percent of the votes to fill the seat for California’s 12th district. The seat has been vacant, following the death of Rep. Tom Lantos from esophageal cancer.

Speier was endorsed by Lantos himself after he announced that he would not be seeking another term due to his illness. She is also supported by the Feminist Majority PAC, NOW, and Emily’s List. Speier will face the many of the same opponents from the special election in the June 3rd Democratic primary and the general election in November, according to San Francisco Chronicle.

"It was a tremendous victory, but now it's already time to get to work... We've got a lot of work to do -- to end the war in Iraq, rejuvenate our economy, make quality health care available to all Americans, protect our environment, fight global warming -- the list goes on and on," said Speier in a statement to her supporters..

Media Resources: San Francisco Chronicle 4/10/08; Mercury News 4/10/08; Jackie Speier statement 4/9/08

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