Maria Cantwell
DemocratU.S. Senator, WA| Age | 67 (b. 1958-10-13) |
| Gender | Female |
| In office since | 1993-01-05 (~33 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | White (Irish American and German ancestry) |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Education | Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration, Miami University (Oxford, Ohio), 1980 |
| Prior occupation | Vice President of Marketing at RealNetworks (1995-1999); prior career in marketing/public affairs and state/federal legislator |
| Military service | No |
| Birthplace | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Marital status | Never married |
| Children | 0 |
| Residence | Edmonds, Washington |
| Notable relatives | Father Paul Cantwell was an Indiana politician (county commissioner, city councilor, state legislator, chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Andrew Jacobs Jr., and 1979 Democratic nominee for Indianapolis mayor) |
Pending research: languages · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 2000 |
| Previous offices | Washington House of Representatives (44th district), 1987-1993 · U.S. House of Representatives (Washington's 1st district), 1993-1995 |
| Committees | Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (Ranking Member) · Committee on Energy and Natural Resources · Committee on Finance · Committee on Indian Affairs · Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship · Joint Committee on Taxation |
| Caucuses | Senate New Democrat Coalition · Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues · Congressional Internet Caucus · Congressional Wine Caucus · Senate Steel Caucus · Senate National Guard Caucus · Congressional Hazards Caucus · Rare Disease Caucus |
| Leadership | Chair, Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (2021-2025) · Ranking Member, Senate Commerce Committee (2025-present) · Ranking Member, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (2015-2019) · Chair, Senate Indian Affairs Committee (2013-2014) · Chair, Senate Small Business Committee (2014-2015) |
| Ideology | Member of the centrist New Democrat Coalition; lifetime League of Conservation Voters score 93% |
| Signature legislation | Helped block Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) drilling (2005) · Co-introduced the Carbon Limits and Energy for America's Renewal (CLEAR) Act with Sen. Susan Collins (2009) · Energy market anti-manipulation amendment (passed 2006) · Shark finning prevention legislation (2011) · Airline passenger refund requirement legislation (2024) |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed $884,007–$4,910,000 (2023) · estimate
| Harbor Capital Appreciation Institutional (mutual fund) | fund · $50,000–$250,000 · 2023 |
| American Beacon Small Cap Value (mutual fund) | fund · $50,000–$250,000 · 2023 |
| Vanguard Windsor II Inc (mutual fund) | fund · 2023 |
| Conestoga Small Cap Investors (mutual fund) | fund · 2023 |
| Cantwell 2000 Campaign loan (note receivable owed to her) | other · $1,000,000–$5,000,000 · 2023 |
Top donors: Microsoft Corp ($655,658 (1991-2024 career))
Top industries: Casinos/Gambling · TV/Movies/Music (Commercial TV & radio) · Sea Transport / Cruise lines · Indian Gaming · Telecom Services · Air Transport · Lobbyists
Scandals & crimes ledger
closed — FEC Admonishment for Failure to Timely Report Complete Loan Information (MUR 5198)
The National Legal and Policy Center filed an FEC complaint in April 2001 alleging that two pre-election loans totaling nearly $4 million from U.S. Bank — secured by RealNetworks stock — were either illegal corporate contributions or improperly disclosed. The FEC cleared Cantwell on the corporate-contribution allegation but admonished her campaign committee for failing to timely disclose complete loan terms, finding a violation of the campaign-finance disclosure statute. No fine or civil penalty was imposed; the commission issued a written admonishment and closed the matter.
resolved — FEC admonishment over undisclosed 2000 campaign loan terms (MUR 5198) business
After a complaint filed in April 2001 by the National Legal and Policy Center, the Federal Election Commission reviewed how Cantwell's 2000 U.S. Senate campaign reported roughly $3.8 million in late-campaign loans from U.S. Bank (including a $3.2 million loan guaranteed by her RealNetworks stock). The FEC determined the loans themselves were permissible but found reason to believe the Cantwell Committee (the campaign committee, a business/political entity) violated FECA reporting requirements by not timely and fully disclosing the loan terms before the election. The Commission admonished the committee, decided to take no further action, imposed no civil penalty, and closed the matter (MUR 5198) on January 13, 2004. This was a finding against the campaign committee rather than a personal criminal or civil conviction of the senator.