New York Republican Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle was not expected to win her congressional seat in 2010.
The 61-year-old nurse, lawyer and mother of six was outspent by her opponent, incumbent Democrat Dan Maffei, 5-to-1 during their race in the upstate New York district. Yet, when the votes were tallied, Buerkle emerged victorious in the Democratic-leaning district by just several hundred votes.
Now, Buerkle is making waves in Congress, calling issues as she sees them and not shying away from controversy. Besides serving on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Buerkle was also picked by House Speaker John Boehner and appointed by President Obama to be a congressional representative to the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
This fall, Buerkle faces a difficult challenge to retain her seat, however. Famed political prognosticator Charlie Cook rates her seat as the third most likely to be won back by the Democrats.
The Daily Caller’s Ginni Thomas recently spoke with Buerkle about the disconnect between Washington elites and the rest of the country, her 2010 freshman class, what keeps her up at night, Obamacare and much more.
Click the links below to fast-forward to each link:
What can you tell Americans who are worried we are losing America?
Tell us why you decided to run for Congress?
How are your constituents reacting to your conservative votes?
How is the Democratic Party changing?
What are you doing about Obamacare?
Isn’t spending still going up even with a Republican House?
What keeps you up at night when you worry about the country?
For more, see:
Her website
Democrats are targeting her for defeat
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