Upon the sudden death of her husband, Walter Capps, in 1997, Lois Capps rose to the occasion by running for his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She won in March 1998, and has been Santa Barbara’s Congresswoman ever since, winning nine elections and serving the better part of two decades in Washington, D.C. In April of this year, the nine-term Democrat announced that she would not seek reelection in 2016, setting off the first truly competitive race for her district (today the 24th, though previously both the 22nd and 23rd) in years.
As a Yale divinity student and former high school nurse, it wasn't surprising to hear that the two historical figures Lois admires most are Clara Harlowe Barton and Florence Nightingale. At a time when relatively few American women worked outside the home. Barlowe founded the American Red Cross and worked as a hospital nurse during the Civil War. Nightingale, meanwhile, was a celebrated social reformer and is considered the founder of modern nursing. The inspiration of both women certainly has shown during the tenure of Rep. Capps, who has passionately advocated on such issues as health care, education, oil drilling, environmental protection, gender equity, and gay rights.
It’s also not surprising that Lois consistently wins the “nicest person in Congress award,” as voted by congressional staffers. Her warm personality shines in the conversations we’ve shared, always proving very focused, caring, and an incredibly intent listener.