5 most powerful women in U.S. politics

By Ben Nanamaker

Since the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote was passed more than 90 years ago, great strides have been made in the realm of political equality.

In that time, we have seen the first female Cabinet member (Frances Perkins, appointed Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Secretary of Labor in 1933), Supreme Court justice (Sandra Day O’Connor) and the first major party vice presidential nominee (Geraldine Ferraro), among many other milestones.

Today the political glass ceiling continues to crack, with women holding key roles on the Supreme Court, in Congress, in the White House and across the media. Female Supreme Court justices, senators, congresswomen, Cabinet members and political pundits exert powerful influence in Washington.

These five women are the current cream of the crop among Washington’s power elite (listed in alphabetical order:

In August 2011, she became the first woman ever to win the Ames Straw Poll, though the momentum from that win didn’t translate to the primaries. She finished sixth in the Iowa caucuses in January 2012 and suspended her campaign soon after. Still, Bachmann remains a rising star in her party, and it would be too soon to count her out for 2016.

Jan Brewer

What makes Jan Brewer the most powerful female governor among the six currently in charge of various states? It’s a combination of name recognition, bold policy moves and governing one of the key swing states this election cycle.

With Arizona, won by John McCain in 2008, currently a toss-up between Mitt Romney and Obama, Brewer has been unafraid to be critical of Obama on issues near and dear to her constituents and party, particularly illegal immigration. Romney will need her help to deliver Arizona to the GOP column again in 2012.

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton, currently the Secretary of State and highest-ranking member of Barack Obama's cabinet, has been a powerful figure in the Democratic Party for nearly 20 years. In 2000, Clinton became the first First Lady to run for and win public office, becoming the first female senator from the state of New York. In 2008, Obama appointed her to be his Secretary of State.

While Clinton has said this will be her last political office, many pundits have put her name out as a top candidate for the 2016 election.

Michelle Obama

As First Lady, Michelle Obama has the ear of arguably the most powerful man in America, Barack Obama. And like many First Ladies who have come before her, Michelle Obama has chosen several causes near and dear to her to support.

Perhaps her most visible cause as First Lady has been tackling childhood obesity through the “Let’s Move!” program. Michelle Obama has appeared on TV shows such as The Colbert Report and The Ellen DeGeneres Show to promote these issues.

Nancy Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi might have lost some of her power when the Democrats lost control of the House in 2010, but underestimate her power at your own peril. Formerly the Speaker of the House from 2007-11, she is arguably the highest-ranked elected female politician in the history of the United States.

Even as minority leader, Pelosi is known as a shrewd politician and powerful party fundraiser, particularly for other Democratic candidates, since her district is one of the most Democrat-dominated in the country. She has been a staunch supporter of liberal policies, and was critical in getting Obama’s health care plan passed.

Check out InvestorPlace for full write-ups and photos of each woman of power in U.S. politics.

The opinions contained in this column are solely those of the writer.

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