Barbara Boxer

{{redirect|Barbara Levy|the AMA RUC chairperson|Barbara Levy, MD}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Barbara Boxer

| image = Barbara Boxer, Official Portrait, 112th Congress.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2013

| jr/sr = United States Senator

| state = California

| term_start = January 3, 1993

| term_end = January 3, 2017

| predecessor = Alan Cranston

| successor = Kamala Harris

{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Senate positions|titlestyle=border: 1px dashed lightgrey;}}

{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes

| office1 = Ranking Member of the Senate Environment Committee

| term_start1 = January 3, 2015

| term_end1 = January 3, 2017

| predecessor1 = David Vitter

| successor1 = Tom Carper

| office2 = Chair of the Senate Environment Committee

| term_start2 = January 3, 2007

| term_end2 = January 3, 2015

| predecessor2 = Jim Inhofe

| successor2 = Jim Inhofe

| office3 = Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee

| term_start3 = January 3, 2007

| term_end3 = January 3, 2015

| predecessor3 = George Voinovich

| successor3 = Johnny Isakson

}}

| state4 = California

| district4 = {{ushr|CA|6|6th}}

| term_start4 = January 3, 1983

| term_end4 = January 3, 1993

| predecessor4 = Phillip Burton

| successor4 = Lynn Woolsey

| birth_name = Barbara Sue Levy

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1940|11|11}}

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| spouse = {{marriage|Stewart Boxer|1962}}

| children = 2

| education = Brooklyn College (BA)

| module = {{listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Sen. Barbara Boxer Opens a Senate Environment Committee Hearing on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.ogg|title=Barbara Boxer's voice|type=speech|description=Boxer opens a Senate Environment Committee hearing on the environmental and economic impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Recorded May 11, 2010}}

}}

Barbara Sue Boxer (née Levy; born November 11, 1940) is a retired American politician, lobbyist, and former reporter who served in the United States Senate, representing California from 1993 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as the U.S. representative for California's 6th congressional district from 1983 until 1993.

Born in Brooklyn, New York City, Boxer graduated from George W. Wingate High School and Brooklyn College. She worked as a stockbroker for several years before moving to California with her husband. During the 1970s, she worked as a journalist for the Pacific Sun and as an aide to U.S. Representative John L. Burton. She served on the Marin County Board of Supervisors for six years and became the board's first female president. With the slogan "Barbara Boxer Gives a Damn", she was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1982, representing California's 6th district.

Boxer won the 1992 election for the U.S. Senate. Running for a third term in 2004, she received 6.96 million votes, becoming the first person to ever get more than 6 million votes in a Senate election and set a record for the most votes in any U.S. Senate election in history, until her colleague Dianne Feinstein, the senior senator from California, surpassed that number in her 2012 re-election.{{cite news |last=Hotakainen |first=Rob |title=California's Boxer faces toughest Senate race yet |url=http://www.kentucky.com/2010/10/04/1463554/californias-boxer-faces-toughest.html |work=McClatchy Newspapers |publisher=Lexington Herald-Leader |date=October 20, 2010 |access-date=April 2, 2011 |archive-date=December 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212074119/https://www.kentucky.com/2010/10/04/1463554/californias-boxer-faces-toughest.html |url-status=dead}} Boxer and Feinstein were the first female pair of U.S. senators representing any state at the same time.{{cite web |title=Jewesses in politics represent! Jewish Women's Archive |url=https://jwa.org/blog/jewesses-in-politics-represent |publisher=Jwa.org |date=November 5, 2002 |access-date=April 27, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/member/dianne-feinstein/F000062 |title=Dianne Feinstein; Congress.gov; Library of Congress |publisher=Congress.gov |access-date=April 27, 2018}}{{cite web |title=Barbara Boxer; Congress.gov; Library of Congress |url=https://www.congress.gov/member/barbara-boxer/B000711 |publisher=Congress.gov |access-date=April 27, 2018}} Boxer was the ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and the vice chair of the Select Committee on Ethics. She was also the Democratic chief deputy whip. Boxer is known for her liberal perspectives.

Boxer did not seek re-election in 2016.{{cite web |title=A MESSAGE FROM BARBARA ABOUT THE FUTURE |url=http://www.barbaraboxer.com/take-action/message-from-barbara |url-status=dead |access-date=January 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108180234/http://www.barbaraboxer.com/take-action/message-from-barbara |archive-date=January 8, 2015 |df=mdy-all}} She was succeeded by then–California attorney general and future vice president Kamala Harris. In January 2020, Boxer joined Washington, D.C.–based lobbying firm Mercury Public Affairs as co-chairwoman.{{cite news |last=Meyer |first=Theodoric |title=Barbara Boxer joins D.C. lobbying firm |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/07/barbara-boxer-joins-dc-lobbying-firm-095196 |work=Politico |date=January 7, 2020}} In January 2021, it was reported that Boxer was working as registered foreign agent for Hikvision, a Chinese state-sponsored surveillance company implicated in human rights abuses.{{cite web |last=Markay |first=Lachlan |title=Scoop: Biden inaugural returns cash from ex-senator-turned-foreign agent |url=https://www.axios.com/barbara-boxer-biden-inaugural-foreign-agent-6022f95b-e6bd-44cc-b43c-2b7d50ffaca1.html |website=Axios |date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=January 12, 2021 |language=en-US}} After initially defending her work for Hikvision, Boxer reversed course and deregistered as a foreign agent.{{cite web |last=McFall |first=Caitlin |title=Barbara Boxer 'deregisters' as foreign agent for Chinese surveillance company that targeted Uyghurs |url=https://www.axios.com/barbara-boxer-biden-inaugural-foreign-agent-6022f95b-e6bd-44cc-b43c-2b7d50ffaca1.html |publisher=Fox News |date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=November 14, 2021 |language=en-US}} In October 2021, Boxer and others led a high-profile mass exodus of employees from Mercury's California office to form their own public affairs and consulting company.{{cite web |last1=Mehta |first1=Seema |last2=Mason |first2=Melanie |title=Former officials Nuñez, Boxer and Villaraigosa lead exodus from powerful lobbying firm |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-10-07/former-elected-leaders-nunez-boxer-villaraigosa-mercury-public-affairs |website=Los Angeles Times |date=October 7, 2021 |access-date=November 14, 2021 |language=en-US}}

Early life, family, and education

Barbara Sue Levy was born in Brooklyn, New York City, to Sophie (née Silvershein) and Ira Levy,{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Barbara-Boxer|title=Barbara Boxer; United States senator|website=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=August 7, 2023}}"[https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/9704 Boxer, Barbara]," History, Art, and Archives, house.gov. Retrieved 26 Jul 2021. a Jewish couple. She attended public schools, graduating from George W. Wingate High School in 1958.{{cite web|url=https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=b000711 |title=Boxer, Barbara (1940-) |website=BioGuideRetro.Congress.gov |access-date=August 7, 2023}}

In 1962, she married Stewart Boxer and graduated from Brooklyn College with a bachelor's degree in economics. Barbara and Stewart Boxer moved to California in 1965.

Early career

Boxer worked as a stockbroker in the early 1960s while her husband went to law school. In 1968, after relocating to California, she worked on the presidential primary campaign of antiwar challenger Eugene McCarthy. In 1970, she co-founded the anti-Vietnam War Marin Alliance.

Boxer first ran for political office in 1972, when she challenged incumbent Republican Peter Arrigoni, a member of the Marin County Board of Supervisors, but lost a close election.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} From 1972 to 1974, Boxer worked as a reporter and editor for the Pacific Sun. She then managed the Marin campaign of John Burton, the brother of Phillip Burton, who then was the congressman representing southern San Francisco, California. John Burton intended to run against incumbent Republican District 6 Congressman William S. Mailliard from Belvedere, California. The district would be renumbered as the 5th District in January 1975.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1992/06/12/william-mailliard-dies/a61e0c35-b494-4979-98a6-cbe48fb97a16/ William Mailliard Dies], Washington Post, June 12, 1992. Retrieved July 15, 2022.{{failed verification|date=August 2023}} However, Mailliard resigned on March 5, 1974, so John Burton also ran in the special election to fill the remainder of the incumbent's 6th District term.{{cite web|url=http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=CAJR&site=ctc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050912103225/http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=CAJR&site=ctc|url-status=dead|title=Information on Senator Barbara Boxer of California|archive-date=September 12, 2005}}{{failed verification|date=August 2023}} Burton narrowly won both crowded races and was sworn into office in 1974,{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} and Boxer became his staff aide.

In 1976, Boxer was elected to the Marin County Board of Supervisors, serving for six years. She was the board's first female president.{{cite web |last=Brody |first=Seymour "Sy" |title=Barbara Boxer (1940– ) |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Boxer.html |publisher=Jewishvirtuallibrary.org |date=1996 |access-date=March 6, 2012}}

U.S. representative

File:Barbara Boxer 1987 congressional photo.jpg

Boxer, then a Marin County supervisor, was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1982, succeeding John Burton. Her slogan was "Barbara Boxer Gives a Damn".{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/barbara-boxers-california|title=Barbara Boxer's California|first=Nathan|last=Heller|magazine=The New Yorker |date=January 13, 2015|via=www.newyorker.com}} In the House, she represented {{ushr|CA|6}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/member/barbara-boxer/B000711|title=Barbara Boxer; Congress.gov; Library of Congress}} for five terms. She narrowly won her first election with 52 percent of the vote, but easily won re-election in her subsequent races.

Boxer was a member of the original Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families[http://files/eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED245830.pdf Children, youth, and families: Beginning the assessment. Hearing before the Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families; House of Representatives, Ninety-Eighth Congress, First Session]{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, United States House of Representatives, Washington, DC, 28 April 1984, Original document retrieved 19 January 2014 from ERIC at Ed.gov: Institution of Education Sciences. {{dead link|date=August 2023}} that was established in 1983. She sat on the Armed Services committee throughout her tenure in the House.

In 1992, Boxer was implicated in the House banking scandal, which revealed that more than 450 congressional representatives and aides, herself included, wrote overdraft checks covered by the House Bank's overdraft protection. In a statement, Boxer said, "In painful retrospect, I clearly should have paid more attention to my account". She wrote a $15 check to the Deficit Reduction Fund for each of her 87 overdrafts.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/16/us/the-house-bank-house-bank-overdrafts-add-to-voters-outrage.html?pagewanted=all |title=The House Bank; House Bank Overdrafts Add to Voters' Outrage – |work=The New York Times |date=March 16, 1992 |access-date=March 6, 2012 |first=Jeffrey |last=Schmalz}}

In 1991, during the Anita Hill Senate hearings, where Hill accused U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment, Boxer led a group of women House members to the Senate Judiciary Committee, demanding that the all-white, all-male Committee of Senators take Hill's charges seriously.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/women032798.htm |title=Clinton Woes a Snag for 3 Female Incumbents |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 28, 1998 |access-date=March 6, 2012}}

U.S. senator

=Elections=

Four-term incumbent Democratic Senator Alan Cranston did not seek re-election in 1992.{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1992-04-20-9204200337-story.html/|title=CONGRESS' BIGGEST PERK: MILLION-DOLLAR PENSIONS|date=April 20, 1992}} Boxer opted to run for Senate. In what was billed as the "Year of the Woman",{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/dianne-feinsteins-1992-election-brought-in-the-year-of-the-woman/|title=Dianne Feinstein's 1992 election brought in the 'Year of the Woman' - CBS San Francisco|date=February 14, 2023|website=www.cbsnews.com}} Boxer beat fellow Rep. Mel Levine and Lieutenant Governor Leo McCarthy in the Democratic primary, winning 44% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=38072|title=Our Campaigns - CA US Senate - D Primary Race - Jun 02, 1992|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}} In the general election, Boxer defeated Republican Bruce Herschensohn by 4.9%.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=3469|title=Our Campaigns - CA US Senate Race - Nov 03, 1992|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}} A last-minute revelation that Herschensohn had patronized a strip club at least partially affected the outcome.{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment111700g.shtml |title=Beware the Trickster |work=National Review |date=January 1, 1970 |access-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-date=January 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104071050/http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment111700g.shtml |url-status=dead }} In 1998, Boxer won a second term, beating sitting California State Treasurer Matt Fong by 10.1% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1998/98Stat.htm |title=STATISTICS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 3, 1998 |website=House.gov |access-date=August 7, 2023}} In 2004, after facing no primary opposition, Boxer defeated GOP candidate Bill Jones, the former California Secretary of State, by 20%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/sov/2004_general/formatted_us_sen_detail.pdf|title=U.S. Senate Detail|access-date=September 11, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101085413/http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/sov/2004_general/formatted_us_sen_detail.pdf|archive-date=January 1, 2007|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} In 2010, Boxer defeated Republican candidate Carly Fiorina, former chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard, by 10%.{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2010-general/ssov/us-senate-summary.pdf|title=U.S. Senate Summary|access-date=September 2, 2011}} Boxer did not seek re-election in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/01/08/politics/barbara-boxer-not-running/index.html|title=Barbara Boxer retiring, not running for reelection in 2016|date=January 8, 2015|website=CNN}}

=Committees=

A member of the Senate Democratic Leadership, Boxer served as the Democratic chief deputy whip, which gave her the job of lining up votes on key legislation.{{cite news |title=In California: CNN projects Democratic Sen. win – CNN Political Ticker – CNN.com Blogs |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/03/in-california-cnn-projects-democratic-sen-win/ |url-status=dead |publisher=CNN |date=November 3, 2010 |access-date=November 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105051936/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/03/in-california-cnn-projects-democratic-sen-win/ |archive-date=November 5, 2010}}

=Caucus memberships=

Senate Oceans Caucus
Senate Ukraine Caucus{{cite news|title=Portman and Durbin Launch Senate Ukraine Caucus|url=http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2015/2/portman-and-durbin-launch-senate-ukraine-caucus|publisher=Rob Portman United States Senator for Ohio|access-date=February 11, 2015|date=February 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211073945/http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2015/2/portman-and-durbin-launch-senate-ukraine-caucus|archive-date=February 11, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

Presidential politics

=2004=

File:Feb14 boxer roses.jpg

On January 6, 2005, Boxer joined Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) in filing a U.S. congressional objection to the certification of Ohio's Electoral College votes in the 2004 U.S. presidential election.{{cite web |url=http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=230450 |title= U.S. SENATOR BARBARA BOXER|website=boxer.senate.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202233730/http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=230450 |archive-date=December 2, 2009}} She called the objection her "opening shot to be able to focus the light of truth on these terrible problems in the electoral system".{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/06/electoral.vote/ |publisher=CNN |title=Bush carries Electoral College after delay |date=January 6, 2005 |access-date=April 26, 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/19 |title=Independent News Media – Election Issues |publisher=The Free Press |access-date=May 25, 2010}} The Senate voted the objection down 74–1; the House voted the objection down 267–31.{{cite web|url=http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G04/EC-Tabulation.phtml |title=Counting and Tabulation of the Electoral Vote by Congress – 2004 |publisher=Thegreenpapers.com |access-date=May 25, 2010}} It was only the second congressional objection to an entire state's electoral delegation in U.S. history; the first instance was in 1877.{{cite web|url=http://www.yubanet.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/13/16942 |title=YubaNet Article Manager |publisher=Yubanet.com |access-date=May 25, 2010}}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}{{cite web |url=http://imdiversity.com/villages/woman/politics_law/ong_barbara_boxer_0305.asp |title= IMDiversity – Careers, Opportunities, and Diversity Connect|website=imdiversity.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051022090817/http://imdiversity.com/villages/woman/politics_law/ong_barbara_boxer_0305.asp |archive-date=October 22, 2005}}

=2008=

As a superdelegate, Boxer had declared that she would support the winner of the California primary, which was won by Hillary Clinton.{{cite news|title=Boxer Focuses on Unity |publisher=KCBS |date=May 10, 2008 |url=http://www.kcbs.com/pages/2162712.php? |access-date=January 29, 2009}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} However, she reneged on that pledge and remained neutral, only officially backing Barack Obama's candidacy the day after the last primaries, once he had garnered enough delegate votes to clinch the nomination.{{cite news |title=Another bloc of Senate supers for Obama |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0608/Another_bloc_of_Senate_supers_for_Obama.html |publisher=Politico |date=June 4, 2008 |access-date=January 29, 2009}}

=2016=

Prior to Hillary Clinton's announcement, on October 20, 2013, Senator Boxer was one of sixteen Democratic female senators to sign a letter endorsing Clinton as the Democratic nominee in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/188687-report-democratic-women-senators-sign-letter-urging-hillary-clinton-to-run/|title=Run, Hillary, run, say Senate's Dem women|first=Alexandra|last=Jaffe|newspaper=The Hill |date=October 30, 2013}}

Post-Senate career

After leaving the U.S. Senate, Boxer has given paid speeches; raised money for her political action committee (PAC for Change); hosted a weekly podcast with her daughter, Nicole Boxer; and worked as a lobbyist.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/07/barbara-boxer-joins-dc-lobbying-firm-095196|first=Theodoric|last=Meyer|title=Barbara Boxer joins DC lobbying firm|date=January 7, 2020|website=Politico|language=en-US|access-date=November 14, 2021}}

In April 2017, Boxer served as the keynote speaker for the Environmental Student Assembly's Earth Month at the University of Southern California.{{cite news|url=https://dailytrojan.com/2017/04/13/former-senator-barbara-boxer-speaks-usc/|title=Former Senator Barbara Boxer speaks at USC|first=Kate|last=Cunningham|date=April 13, 2017|publisher=Daily Trojan}}

=Lobbying=

In January 2020, it was reported that Boxer had become co-chair of Mercury Public Affairs, a prominent lobbying and public affairs firm, whose corporate clients have included Airbnb and AT&T, along foreign governments such as Qatar and Turkey.

Prior to joining Mercury Public Affairs, Boxer had worked as a paid advisor to Lyft, during which time she advocated against the passage of AB-5, a California law that Lyft opposed which reclassified as "employees" many workers, including Lyft drivers, who had previously been classified as "independent contractors" under state labor law.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/Open-Forum-AB5-Is-Not-the-Answer-for-All-Workers-14379743.php|title=Barbara Boxer: AB5 is not the answer for all workers - SFChronicle.com |date=2019-08-26 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-04 |last1=Boxer |first1=By Barbara }}{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/08/29/aoc-rips-barbara-boxer-helping-lyft-fight-california-bill/2158941001/|title=AOC criticizes ex-Democratic senator for advising Lyft in battle over California gig worker bill|last=Behrmann|first=Savannah|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-04}}

Boxer also has worked as a paid consultant on behalf of Poseidon Water as part of that company's effort to install a desalination plant in Huntington Beach, California, and also for CityLift Parking, a company in Oakland, California, that designs automated parking lifts.{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/07/barbara-boxer-joins-dc-lobbying-firm-095196|first=Theodoric|last=Meyer|title=Barbara Boxer joins DC lobbying firm|date=January 7, 2020|work=Politico|language=en-US|access-date=November 14, 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-boxer-poseidon-20170419-story.html|first=Bettina|last=Boxall|title=Barbara Boxer will lobby for an environmentally controversial desalination plant in Huntington Beach|date=April 19, 2017|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=November 14, 2021}}

In October 2021, Boxer, former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former California State Assembly speaker Fabian Nunez led a high-profile mass exodus of employees from the California office of Mercury Public Affairs to set up their own public affairs and consulting firm. At the time of their departure, the press reported Mercury's California based clients included Clorox, Lyft, the California Charter Schools Association, and the Westlands Water District, the utility that oversees the heart of the state's agricultural lands in the Central Valley.

=Foreign agent=

On January 12, 2021, it was reported that the inaugural committee of president-elect Joe Biden returned a $500 donation from Boxer after Boxer registered as a foreign agent on behalf of Hikvision, a Chinese state-owned manufacturer of surveillance equipment. The company has been accused of involvement in the persecution of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region. In an emailed statement to the press regarding the returned donation, Boxer defended her work as a registered foreign agent by saying, "When I am asked to provide strategic advice to help a company operate in a more responsible and humane manner consistent with U.S. law in spirit and letter, it is an opportunity to make things better while helping protect and create American jobs."

Later that same day, Boxer reversed course and publicly announced on Twitter that she would deregister as a foreign agent for Hikvision, writing, "Due to the intense response to my registration I have determined that my continued work has become a negative distraction from my effort to preserve American jobs and make the company better. Therefore I have deregistered."

Platform and votes

Boxer has been described as a "liberal lion",{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-boxer-retire-20150108-story.html|title=Sen. Barbara Boxer, liberal lion from California, to retire after 2016|date=January 8, 2015|website=Los Angeles Times}} as well as a "progressive force".{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/01/08/retiring-boxer-expected-to-remain-force-in-progressive-politics |title=Sen. Boxer Expected to Remain Progressive Force |website=USNews.com |last=Levy |first=Gabrielle |date=January 8, 2015}}

=George W. Bush=

Boxer and Iowa Senator Tom Harkin were the only two Senate Democrats to support Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold's 2006 resolution to censure President George W. Bush.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/01/washington/call-to-censure-bush-is-answered-by-a-mostly-empty-echo.html|title=Call to Censure Bush Is Answered by a Mostly Empty Echo|first=David D.|last=Kirkpatrick|newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 1, 2006}}

==Bush nominees==

During the confirmation hearings for the United States secretary of state nominee Condoleezza Rice in January 2005, Boxer challenged her to admit to alleged mistakes and false statements made by the Bush administration in leading the United States into the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Along with 12 other senators, Boxer voted against confirmation.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/01/18/RICEBOXER.DTL |title=Transcript of remarks between Boxer and Rice |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=January 19, 2005 |access-date=May 25, 2010}}{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00002 |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=May 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528133604/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00002| archive-date= May 28, 2010 |url-status=live}} The 12 "no" votes were the most votes against a secretary of state nominee since 1825, when Henry Clay was so named.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/27/world/rice-is-sworn-in-as-secretary-after-senate-vote-of-85-to-13.html|title=Rice Is Sworn In as Secretary After Senate Vote of 85 to 13|first=Sheryl Gay|last=Stolberg|work=The New York Times |date=May 12, 2018|via=NYTimes.com}}

Boxer voted against John Bolton's nomination for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and filibustered him on the Senate floor. Because of the strong Democratic opposition, Bolton could not obtain Senate approval. However, President Bush bypassed the Senate by employing the constitutional right of recess appointment.{{cite news |last=Bumiller |first=Elisabeth |author2=Sheryl Stolberg |date=August 2, 2005 |title=President sends Bolton to U.N.; bypasses Senate |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/02/politics/02bolton.html |access-date=February 8, 2008}}

Boxer voted against the confirmation of Chief Justice of the United States nominee John Roberts and against the confirmation of Associate Justice nominee Samuel Alito.{{cite web |url=http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=246228 |title= U.S. SENATOR BARBARA BOXER - Newsroom|website=boxer.senate.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103014454/http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=246228 |archive-date=January 3, 2009}}{{cite web |url=http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00245 |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=May 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527163745/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00245 |archive-date=May 27, 2010 |url-status= live}}

=Economy=

On October 1, 2008, Boxer voted for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act.{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00213 |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=May 25, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100528063758/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00213| archive-date= May 28, 2010 | url-status= live}}

On August 26, 2013, Boxer told The Ed Show on MSNBC that the federal minimum wage should be raised to $10.00 an hour.{{cite web|last=Richinick |first=Michele |title=Raise minimum wage to $10! Sen. Boxer demands increase for workers |url=http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/08/27/raise-minimum-wage-to-10-sen-boxer-demands-increase-for-workers/ |publisher=MSNBC |access-date=27 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827130539/http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/08/27/raise-minimum-wage-to-10-sen-boxer-demands-increase-for-workers/ |archive-date=August 27, 2013}}

=Education=

Boxer established the Excellence in Education award to recognize teachers, parents, businesses and organizations working to make positive changes in education. Beginning in 1997, Boxer presented the Excellence in Education Award to 38 recipients.[http://boxer.senate.gov/issues/edu_award.cfm Boxer website: Excellence in Education Awards], Accessed May 6, 2006 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428032325/http://boxer.senate.gov/issues/edu_award.cfm |date=April 28, 2006}}{{better source needed|date=August 2023}}

=Election and Electoral College reform=

Boxer voted for the 2002 Help America Vote Act, which mandated the use of voting machines across the country, among other provisions. On February 18, 2005, Boxer and others introduced the Count Every Vote Act of 2005, which would have provided a voter-verified paper ballot for every vote cast in electronic voting machines and ensured access to voter verification for all citizens.{{cite web|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-450 |title=S. 450 [109th]: Count Every Vote Act of 2005 |publisher=GovTrack.us |access-date=March 6, 2012}} The bill did not pass.

Boxer introduced a bill on November 15, 2016, calling for a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College and to select future presidents by a simple national vote only. This bill was introduced six days after Donald Trump won the 2016 election despite losing the national popular vote to Hillary Clinton.{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/17/13664592/boxer-abolish-electoral-college |title=California Sen. Barbara Boxer files a bill to abolish the Electoral College once and for all |date=November 17, 2016 |publisher=Vox |access-date=July 10, 2020}}

= Energy =

Boxer opposed the nuclear energy deal between the United States and India. She believed that India should not receive aid from the U.S. in the civilian nuclear energy sector until it broke its relationship with Iran.{{cite web|url=http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/04/07/1549608.htm |title=Nuke deal gets thumbs up in Senate hearing |publisher=Tmcnet.com |access-date=March 6, 2012}}

=Environment=

Boxer successfully led the 2003 Senate floor battle to block oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.For the whole section, except where noted: [http://boxer.senate.gov/issues/environment/index.cfm Boxer Website: The Environment], Accessed May 6, 2006 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106104012/http://boxer.senate.gov/issues/environment/index.cfm |date=January 6, 2010}} In 2005, Boxer voted again to block oil drilling at ANWR.

Boxer introduced the National Oceans Protection Act (NOPA) of 2005.[http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr010=ufev20xk71.app1b&abbr=press_&page=NewsArticle&id=7343 oceanconservancy.org: Senator Boxer Introduces National Oceans Protection Act of 2005], Accessed May 6, 2006 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927033051/http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr010=ufev20xk71.app1b&abbr=press_&page=NewsArticle&id=7343 |date=September 27, 2007 }}

Boxer was an original cosponsor of Senator Jim Jeffords' (I-VT) Clean Power Act.[http://epw.senate.gov/107th/box_061202.htm Senate.gov: Statement by Barbara Boxer before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, June 12, 2002], Accessed May 6, 2006

Boxer was the Senate sponsor of the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 17, 2006. The bill protected {{convert|275830|acre|km2|0}} of federal land as wilderness and {{convert|21|mi|km|0}} of stream as a wild and scenic river, including such popular areas as the King Range and Cache Creek.{{cite web|url=http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=pubLawLibResults&PLID=150&WID=0 |title=Wilderness Law Library |publisher=Wilderness.net |date=October 17, 2006 |access-date=May 25, 2010}}

Boxer, along with her colleague Dianne Feinstein, voted in favor of subsidy payments to conventional commodity farm producers at the cost of subsidies for conservation-oriented farming.{{Cite news|title=California Farmers Reconsidering Opposition To Subsidies |author=Becker, Elizabeth |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/08/us/california-farmers-reconsidering-opposition-to-subsidies-443638.html | date=April 8, 2002 | access-date=April 26, 2010}}

=Foreign policy=

In 1999, the Senate passed a Boxer resolution opposing the Taliban as the official government of Afghanistan because of its human rights abuses against women.{{Cite web |date=May 5, 1999 |title=CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE (May 5, 1999) |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-1999-05-05/pdf/CREC-1999-05-05-pt1-PgS4818.pdf#page=1}}

File:Boxer Sharon.jpg Ariel Sharon in 2005.]]

She voted against the first Gulf War while a member of the House in 1991.{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1991/roll009.xml |title=Final tally |website=clerk.house.gov}}

In 2012, Boxer and a bipartisan group of six senators introduced a resolution condemning Russia for aiding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government as the country faced civil war.{{cite web|url=http://www.friendsoftheuschamber.com/article/bipartisan-group-of-lawmakers-condemns-russias-arms-sales-to-syria|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123131346/http://www.friendsoftheuschamber.com/article/bipartisan-group-of-lawmakers-condemns-russias-arms-sales-to-syria|url-status=dead|title=Bipartisan group of lawmakers condemns Russia's arms sales to Syria -…|date=January 23, 2013|archive-date=January 23, 2013}}

==Iraq War==

In October 2002, Boxer voted against the joint resolution passed by the US Congress to authorize the use of military force by the Bush administration against Iraq.{{cite web|url=http://boxer.senate.gov/newsroom/200210/20021003_frelat.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021017220016/http://boxer.senate.gov/newsroom/200210/20021003_frelat.html |archive-date=October 17, 2002 |title=U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer - Newsroom |date=October 3, 2002 |access-date=August 29, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hlrecord.org/media/paper609/news/2002/10/24/News/Senator.Boxer.Defends.Vote.On.Iraq.Resolution-304772.shtml |title=The Harvard Law Record – Senator Boxer defends vote on Iraq resolution |publisher=Hlrecord.org |access-date=May 25, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103105434/http://www.hlrecord.org/media/paper609/news/2002/10/24/News/Senator.Boxer.Defends.Vote.On.Iraq.Resolution-304772.shtml |archive-date=January 3, 2009 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237 |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=May 25, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100528130156/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237| archive-date= May 28, 2010 | url-status= live}}

In June 2005, Senators Boxer and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, cosponsored Senate Resolution 171 calling for a timeframe for US troop withdrawal from Iraq.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

In 2005, Boxer criticized Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's judgment in relation to the war in Iraq: "I personally believe – this is my personal view – that your loyalty to the mission you were given, to sell the war, overwhelmed your respect for the truth."[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27818-2005Jan21.html Why the Crass Remarks About Rice?]. The Washington Post, January 22, 2005.

Boxer was sharply critical of US Army General David Petraeus' testimony regarding the political and military situation of Iraq in 2007, charging him with reporting while wearing "rosy glasses".{{cite web|last=Bresnahan |first=John |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0907/Boxer_to_Petraeus_Take_off_your_rosy_glasses.html |title=Boxer to Petraeus: 'Take off your rosy glasses' – POLITICO Live |publisher=Politico.Com |date=September 11, 2007 |access-date=March 6, 2012}}

In January 2007, Boxer was in the news for comments she made when responding to Bush's plans to send an additional 20,000 troops to Iraq. "Who pays the price?" Boxer asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "I'm not going to pay a personal price. My kids are too old and my grandchild is too young. You're not going to pay a personal price with an immediate family. So who pays the price? The American military and their families... not me, not you." When Rice interjected, Boxer responded by saying, "Madam Secretary, please. I know you feel terrible about it. That's not the point. I was making the case as to who pays the price for your decisions. And the fact that this administration would move forward with this escalation with no clue as to the further price that we're going to pay militarily... I find really appalling."Barrett, Ted. GOP senator: Bush plan could match Vietnam blunder [http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/11/iraq.congress/index.html CNN, January 11, 2007]

=Gun laws=

Senator Boxer joined colleagues to pass a federal ban on various semi-automatic firearms and established the COPS program.{{Cite web |title=Barbara Boxer |url=https://dornsife.usc.edu/center-for-political-future/fellows-program/former-fellows/barbara-boxer/ |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=USC Center for the Political Future |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Sen. Barbara Boxer says she won't seek a sixth term in 2016 (VIDEO) |url=https://www.guns.com/news/2015/01/08/sen-barbara-boxer-says-she-wont-seek-a-sixth-term-in-2016-video |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Guns.com |language=en}}

In the wake of the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, Boxer posted on Facebook that it was an "unspeakable tragedy" and she encouraged others to support "common-sense gun safety laws to protect our communities from these weapons of war."{{cite news|last1=Berkowitz|first1=Bonnie|last2=Cai|first2=Weiyi|last3=Lu|first3=Denise|last4=Gamio|first4=Lazaro|title=Everything lawmakers said (and didn't say) after the Orlando mass shooting|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/how-lawmakers-responded-to-the-orlando-mass-shooting/|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=31 December 2017}}

=Hate crimes=

Boxer co-sponsored the Matthew Shepard Act,{{cite web|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN01105:@@@P|title=Cosponsors - S.1105 - 110th Congress (2007-2008): Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007|first=Kennedy|last=Edward|date=September 26, 2007|website=thomas.loc.gov|access-date=March 30, 2008|archive-date=July 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703230544/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN01105:@@@P|url-status=dead}} which expanded the federal definition of hate crimes to include crimes based on the victim's sexual orientation and gender identity.

=Health care=

File:WEB-SIZE-04-13-11-Women-s-Health-Presser-1.jpg

Boxer was part of a coalition to increase medical research to find cures for diseases. In 2007, she authored successful bipartisan legislation with Senator Gordon Smith to combat HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis globally.[http://boxer.senate.gov/news/releases/record.cfm?id=282354 Recent Press Release from Barbara Boxer, US Senator from California] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926203222/http://boxer.senate.gov/news/releases/record.cfm?id=282354 |date=September 26, 2007 }} In 1997, she authored a Patients' Bill of Rights. She has written a bill to make health insurance tax-deductible and a bill to allow any American buy into the same health insurance program that members of Congress have. She supported comprehensive prescription drug coverage through Medicare and the right of all consumers to purchase lower-cost prescription drugs re-imported from Canada.[http://boxer.senate.gov/issues/economy/ Strengthening the Economy: Barbara Boxer, US Senator, California] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228214749/http://boxer.senate.gov/issues/economy/ |date=February 28, 2007 }}{{better source needed|date=August 2023}}

In October 2002, Boxer urged the Bush administration to take specific steps to address the causes of the steep increase in autism cases in California.For the whole paragraph: [http://boxer.senate.gov/issues/healthcare/ Boxer page on U.S. Senate website], Accessed May 6, 2006 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106111420/http://boxer.senate.gov/issues/healthcare/ |date=January 6, 2010 }}

Boxer advocated for embryonic stem-cell research, asserting that it has the potential to help those with diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injuries, and other diseases.[http://boxer.senate.gov/issues/healthcare/reagan.cfm An Open Letter to Nancy Reagan, by Barbara Boxer], Accessed May 6, 2006 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428024147/http://boxer.senate.gov/issues/healthcare/reagan.cfm |date=April 28, 2006 }}

=Intellectual property=

Boxer supported PIPA.{{cite web|url=http://thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:SN00968:@@@P |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904220447/http://thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112%3ASN00968%3A%40%40%40P |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2013 |title=THOMAS.gov |publisher=THOMAS.gov |access-date=March 6, 2012 }}

=LGBT rights=

In 1996, Boxer was one of 14 senators to vote against the Defense of Marriage Act.{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=2&vote=00280 |title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 104th Congress – 2nd Session |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=March 6, 2012}} She also voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004 and 2006,{{cite web|url=http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/Barbara_Boxer.htm |title=Barbara Boxer on the Issues |publisher=Senate.ontheissues.org |access-date=March 6, 2012}} although when San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom issued a directive to the city-county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, she stated that she supported California's domestic partnership law but believed that marriage was between a man and a woman.{{cite news|author1=Mark Simon |author2=Carla Marinucci |author3=Chronicle Political Writers |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/02/20/MNGSF54RDD1.DTL |title=Top state Dems criticize S.F. mayor / TIGHTROPE: Politicians try not to anger voters – 50% of Californians oppose same-sex unions |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=February 20, 2004 |access-date=March 6, 2012}} She opposed Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that prohibited same-sex marriage in California, and supported the Uniting American Families Act.{{cite web|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN01328:@@@P|title=Cosponsors - S.1328 - 110th Congress (2007-2008): Uniting American Families Act of 2007|first=Leahy|last=Patrick|date=May 8, 2007|website=thomas.loc.gov|access-date=March 30, 2008|archive-date=July 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704161824/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN01328:@@@P|url-status=dead}}

During her 2010 campaign, Boxer stated her strong support for same-sex marriage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/boxer-makes-pitch-to-southern-california-gay-voters/|title=Boxer Makes Pitch To Southern California Gay Voters - CBS San Francisco|date=October 27, 2010|website=www.cbsnews.com}}

=Marijuana=

Boxer opposed reforming marijuana policy and opposed a California ballot measure to legalize and tax marijuana for those 21 and older in the state.{{cite web|last=Byrne |first=John |url=http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0405/boxer-legalizing-pot-increase-crime-car-accidents/ |title=Boxer: Legalizing pot could increase crime, car accidents |publisher=Raw Story |date=April 5, 2010 |access-date=May 25, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100411082009/http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0405/boxer-legalizing-pot-increase-crime-car-accidents/| archive-date= April 11, 2010 | url-status= live}}

File:Boxer Marines.jpg, 22 March 2005.]]

=Reproductive rights=

File:Barbara Boxer.jpg

As a senator, Boxer was an outspoken supporter of abortion rights.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/01/barbara-boxers-legacy-for-women/384356/|title=Barbara Boxer: 'One of the Most Steadfast Champions for Women'|last=Graves |first=Lucia |date=January 8, 2015|website=The Atlantic}} She authored the Freedom of Choice Act of 2004 and participated in the floor fight for passage of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.{{Cite web |title=Barbara Boxer {{!}} Institute of Governmental Studies |url=https://igs.berkeley.edu/people/barbara-boxer |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=igs.berkeley.edu}}{{Cite web |last=Sen. Boxer |first=Barbara [D-CA |date=2007-04-19 |title=S.1173 - 110th Congress (2007-2008): A bill to protect, consistent with Roe v. Wade, a woman's freedom to choose to bear a child or terminate a pregnancy, and for other purposes. |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/1173 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=www.congress.gov}}

Boxer was critical of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment to Obamacare.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/10/boxer-senate-has-votes-to_n_352064.html |title=Boxer: Senate Has Votes To Block Stupak Amendment |work=Huffington Post |access-date=March 6, 2012 |first=Sam |last=Stein |date=November 10, 2009}}

=Social Security=

Boxer supported the then-current system of Social Security, and opposed President George W. Bush's plan for partial privatization of Social Security.[http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=232056 Boxer Delivers Major Speech On Social Security] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103024732/http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=232056 |date=January 3, 2009 }}[http://boxer.senate.gov/issues/sstexas.cfm SOCIAL SECURITY PRESS CONFERENCE] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050825063823/http://boxer.senate.gov/issues/sstexas.cfm |date=August 25, 2005 }}

=Surveillance=

In June 2008, Boxer spoke in the Senate in opposition to the FISA Amendments Act of 2008,{{cite web|url= http://www.politico.com/static/PPM104_080619_fisapromise.htm |title=Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008 |website=Politico }} a pending bill in the United States Congress to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act,{{cite web|url=http://www.boxer.senate.gov/news/releases/record.cfm?id=299645 |title=Boxer Statement on FISA Bill |date=June 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626015425/https://boxer.senate.gov/news/releases/record.cfm?id=299645 |archive-date=June 26, 2008 }} and later broke with her counterpart Dianne Feinstein and voted against it.{{cite web

|title=Senate Vote 168 (110th Congress, 2nd Session)

|publisher=U.S. Senate

|date=July 9, 2008

|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00168

|access-date=July 9, 2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080711124005/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00168| archive-date= July 11, 2008 | url-status= live}}

Public image

At {{convert|4|ft|11|in|cm|abbr=on}}, Boxer was one of the shortest members of the Congress. When addressing the chamber, she would sometimes stand on a portable platform, dubbed the "Boxer Box", which was carried by an aide.{{cite web |last1=Mehta |first1=Seema |last2=Halper |first2=Evan |title=Sen. Barbara Boxer, liberal lion from California, to retire after 2016 |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-boxer-retire-20150108-story.html |url-status=live |website=Los Angeles Times |date=January 8, 2015 |access-date=March 11, 2021 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108170016/http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-boxer-retire-20150108-story.html |archive-date=January 8, 2015}}{{cite web |last=Kanin |first=Zach |title=Does Height Matter in Politics? |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/does-height-matter-in-pol_b_73129 |website=HuffPost |date=November 17, 2007 |access-date=March 11, 2021}}

=Television appearances=

Boxer has made cameo appearances as herself in several television shows, including Murphy Brown (1994), Gilmore Girls (2002) and Curb Your Enthusiasm (2007),{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/tv_review.asp?ID=55|title=Curb Your Enthusiasm |author=Len Sousa |publisher=Slant magazine |date=September 22, 2007|access-date=November 4, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071011025919/http://slantmagazine.com/tv/tv_review.asp?ID=55| archive-date= October 11, 2007 | url-status= live}} as well as a cameo (as herself) in the 2000 film Traffic.{{cite web|url=http://imdb.com/name/nm0101526/|publisher=IMDB |title=Barbara Boxer|access-date=November 4, 2007}} On November 2, 2005, she made an appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart to discuss her new novel, A Time To Run.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

In September 2012, it was reported that Boxer and Republican Senator Olympia Snowe would appear together in an NBC sitcom.{{cite news| url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Sen-Snowe-ready-to-make-sitcom-debut-3870532.php|title=News report | work=The San Francisco Chronicle}} On September 20, 2012, she and Senator Snowe appeared in the fifth season premiere of Parks and Recreation. Boxer later returned to Parks and Recreation alongside several other U.S. senators in early 2015 in the seventh season episode "Ms. Ludgate-Dwyer Goes to Washington".{{Cite web |title=Parks And Recreation: "Ms. Ludgate-Dwyer Goes To Washington"/"Pie-Mary" |url=https://www.avclub.com/parks-and-recreation-ms-ludgate-dwyer-goes-to-washin-1798182679 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=AV Club |language=en-US}}

In November 2016, Boxer appeared in an episode of Chelsea, presented by Chelsea Handler, entitled "Do Not Despair About Our Country", filmed shortly after the final announced result of the 2016 US presidential election, during which Handler wept about the result.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxT4A0NLg-E| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/jxT4A0NLg-E| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=Chelsea Handler Cries Talking About Hillary Clinton's Election Loss|last=World News|date=November 10, 2016|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/chelsea-handler-breaks-down-netflix-donald-trump-victory-1201915108/|title=Chelsea Handler Breaks Down While Discussing Donald Trump Victory|first=Lawrence|last=Yee|date=November 10, 2016}}

Major speeches and statements

{{cite web|url=http://boxer.senate.gov/newsroom/200210/20021003_frelat.html |title=Excerpts from Senator Boxer's Senate Floor Statement on the Resolution Authorizing the Use of Military Force against Iraq, October 10, 2002 |access-date=August 29, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021017220016/http://boxer.senate.gov/newsroom/200210/20021003_frelat.html |archive-date=October 17, 2002 }}
[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/01/18/RICEBOXER.DTL Transcript from the Confirmation Hearing of Condoleezza Rice, January 18, 2005]
{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050331040600/http://boxer.senate.gov/senate/20050126_print.cfm |date=March 31, 2005 |title=Senate Floor Debate on the Confirmation of Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State, January 26, 2005 }}
{{cite web|url=http://www.boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=231270 |title=On the Nomination of Alberto Gonzales to be Attorney General, February 1, 2005 |access-date=December 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206123412/http://www.boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=231270 |archive-date=February 6, 2005 }}
{{cite web|url=http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=231697 |title=On the President's Budget, February 7, 2005 |access-date=September 7, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050208144526/http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=231697 |archive-date=February 8, 2005 }}
{{cite web|url=http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=232056 |title=On Social Security, February 11, 2005 |access-date=February 7, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050225233916/http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=232056 |archive-date=February 25, 2005 }}
{{cite web|url=http://boxer.senate.gov/senate/20050316_print.cfm |title=Senate Floor Debate on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, March 16, 2005 |access-date=September 7, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050331020321/http://boxer.senate.gov/senate/20050316_print.cfm |archive-date=March 31, 2005 }}
{{cite web|url=http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=236664 |title=Statement on Earth Day, April 20, 2005 |access-date=September 12, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050421102944/http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=236664 |archive-date=April 21, 2005 }}
{{cite web|url=http://boxer.senate.gov/news/20050706sf.cfm |title=On the Iraq War, July 6, 2005 |access-date=September 7, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050825063849/http://boxer.senate.gov/news/20050706sf.cfm |archive-date=August 25, 2005 }}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20051021005211/http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/05/07/con05247.html On Karl Rove's CIA Leak], July 20, 2005
{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050825064342/http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=242296 |date=August 25, 2005 |title=On the Energy Bill, July 29, 2005 }}
{{cite web|url=http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=246228 |title=On Her Opposition to the Confirmation of Chief Justice Nominee John Roberts, September 21, 2005 |access-date=February 7, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050927171214/http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=246228 |archive-date=September 27, 2005 }}
{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083625/http://fora.tv/fora/showthread.php?t=414 Addressing World Affairs Council of Northern California (Video), October 13, 2006]}}

Books

Boxer's first novel, A Time to Run, was published in 2005 by San Francisco-based Chronicle Books.[http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/13/RVGDAFJ17K1.DTL&type=books SFGate.com], Accessed May 6, 2006 Her second novel, Blind Trust, was released in July 2009 by Chronicle Books.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

Personal life

Barbara and Stewart Boxer had two children, Doug and Nicole. On May 28, 1994, Nicole Boxer married Tony Rodham, the younger brother of Hillary Clinton, in a ceremony at the White House attended by 250 guests.[https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/30/us/a-rose-garden-wedding.html "A Rose Garden Wedding"], The New York Times, May 30, 1994. Last accessed March 23, 2008. (This was the first White House wedding since Tricia Nixon married Edward Cox in 1971.) Before divorcing, Boxer and Rodham had a son, Zachary, in 1995.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cjzY4jSHRk&t=26 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/-cjzY4jSHRk |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |url-status=live |title=Sen. Barbara Boxer: Clinton campaign displayed 'toughness' |last=PBS NewsHour |date=July 26, 2016 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

In 2006, Barbara and Stewart Boxer sold their house in Greenbrae, California and moved to Rancho Mirage.{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/02/barbara-boxer-makes-it-official.html|title=Barbara Boxer makes it official, files papers to run for reelection|date=February 18, 2010|work=Los Angeles Times}}

On July 26, 2021, Boxer was assaulted and robbed of her mobile phone in the Jack London Square section of Oakland, California. A $2,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest. Boxer was not seriously injured in the attack.{{cite news |last=Shepherd |first=Katie |title=Former senator Barbara Boxer was attacked and robbed in California: 'How can you do this to a grandmother?' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/07/27/barbara-boxer-robbed-oakland-california/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 27, 2021 |access-date=July 27, 2021}}{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Eric |title=Former Sen. Barbara Boxer assaulted, robbed in Oakland |url=https://www.audacy.com/kcbsradio/news/local/former-sen-barbara-boxer-assaulted-in-oakland |publisher=KCBS (AM) |date=July 27, 2021 |access-date=July 27, 2021}}

Electoral history

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20050120090607/http://boxer.senate.gov/ Senator Barbara Boxer] official U.S. Senate website
{{C-SPAN|2470}}

;Articles

[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4493675 "Barbara Boxer: Rice Hearings and the 2004 Vote"], Terry Gross, Fresh Air, NPR, February 10, 2005
[http://progressive.org/mag_intv0705 "Barbara Boxer Interview"], Ruth Conniff, The Progressive, July 2005
{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083625/http://fora.tv/fora/showthread.php?t=414 Barbara Boxer speaks at The World Affairs Council of Northern California]}} video, October 13, 2006

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 6th congressional district|years=1983–1993}}

{{s-bef|before=Les AuCoin, Joe Biden, Bill Bradley, Robert Byrd, Tom Daschle, Bill Hefner, Barbara B. Kennelly, George Miller, Tip O'Neill, Paul Tsongas, Tim Wirth}}