Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Jeannette Rankin Entered Congress Before Women Won Nationwide Suffrage
Jeannette Rankin was the first woman elected to the United States Congress.
She won a House seat representing Montana in 1916.
At that time, women in many parts of the United States still could not vote in federal elections.
Montana had already allowed women to vote, which made Rankin’s election possible.
She officially took her seat on April 2, 1917, after lawmakers debated whether a woman should serve in Congress.
Rankin supported women’s voting rights and other social reforms.
She voted against entering both World War I and World War II.
In 1920, the 19th Amendment gave women across the country the constitutional right to vote.
Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman elected to the United States Congress in November 1916.
Montana had granted women unrestricted voting rights in 1914, allowing Rankin to run for office.
Rankin was sworn in as a House representative on April 2, 1917, after a debate over women serving in Congress.
She later opposed United States involvement in both World War I and World War II.
The 19th Amendment was certified on August 26, 1920, granting American women the constitutional right to vote nationwide.
- Who
- Jeannette Rankin, a Republican from Montana, became the first woman elected to the United States Congress.
- What
- Rankin won a House seat and became the first woman voting member of Congress.
- When
- She was elected in November 1916 and sworn in on April 2, 1917; the 19th Amendment was certified on August 26, 1920.
- Where
- Rankin represented Montana in the United States House of Representatives.
- Why
- Montana had granted women the right to vote in 1914, enabling Rankin to run for and win a congressional seat before nationwide suffrage.
- Election
- November 1916
- Office
- United States House of Representatives
- State represented
- Montana
- Swearing-in date
- April 2, 1917
- Montana voting rights
- Women received unrestricted voting rights in 1914
- Nationwide suffrage
- The 19th Amendment was certified on August 26, 1920
- War votes
- Rankin was the only member of Congress to vote against United States involvement in both World War I and World War II