Oldest member of Congress, Slaughter hailed as trailblazer
Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., the oldest member of Congress, died early Friday of injuries from a fall at her home last week, her office announced.
The 88-year old was dean of New York’s House delegation and the first woman to chair the powerful House Rules Committee, which determines which bills are considered by the full House. She remained the panel’s top Democrat until her death.
A native of Harlan County, Kentucky, she had a distinct twang and delivery that she employed to critique Republican policy with regularity from the dais and on the House floor. Elected to Congress in 1986, she previously served in the New York State Assembly from 1982 to 1986 and the Monroe County Legislature between 1976 and 1979.
She was the only microbiologist in Congress and a former blues and jazz singer.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who visited Slaughter at George Washington University Hospital on Thursday, called her “a trailblazer.”
“Her strong example inspired countless young women to know their power, and seek their rightful place at the head of the decision-making table,” Pelosi said. “She took great pride in representing the area around the historic Seneca Falls Convention, and embraced the future with her forceful engagement on social media.”
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., called Slaughter “a giant,” adding: “She had deep convictions - on both issues important to the people of Rochester, and for the integrity and honesty of the political system.”
Slaughter’s passing marks an ongoing depletion of the House Democratic caucus’ top ranks.
In December, Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., 88, who had been the longest-serving member of Congress and the former chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, resigned in disgrace amid accusations of sexual misconduct. Rep. Sandy Levin, D-Mich., 86, once the top Democrat on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, is set to retire after this year. And Rep. Robert Brady, D-Pa., 72, is stepping down as he is embroiled in ongoing federal corruption investigations.
Speculation - driven by younger members expressing a desire for change - also continues about the future of Pelosi, 77, and her leadership team of Reps. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., 78, and James Clyburn, D-S.C., 77.
Slaughter was a lead author of the Stock Act, passed in 2012 to curb insider trading among lawmakers and congressional aides, a co-author of the Violence Against Women Act, and a longtime advocate for women’s rights and funding for women’s health programs.
Slaughter’s Rochester-area seat, redrawn in 2011 to re-elect her, is safely Democratic. Voters there overwhelmingly supported Democrat Hillary Clinton for president in 2016.
In 2014, Slaughter almost lost re-election, eking out a win by less than 1,000 votes. Her closer-than-anticipated victory made Republicans look again at the district, but she ran a more serious campaign in 2016 and defeated her GOP opponent by 12 points.
Potential successors include Lovely Warren, 40, the first black female mayor of Rochester whom New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, once almost selected as his lieutenant governor. Under state law, Cuomo will have to determine the date of a special election or keep the seat vacant until November’s elections.