Mildred Barry Hughes

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Mildred Barry Hughes
Hughes circa 1957-1965
Born	February 11, 1902 Elizabeth, New Jersey
Died	January 11, 1995 Cranford, New Jersey
Occupation	Senator
Spouse	Peter L. Hughes II (1902-1971)

Mildred Barry Hughes (February 11, 1902 – January 11, 1995) was the first woman elected to the New Jersey Senate, in 1965.

She was born as Mildred Barry in Elizabeth, New Jersey and married Peter L. Hughes II (1902-1971) and had three children: Peter L. Hughes III, W. Barry Hughes, and David J. Hughes. She was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly, as a Democrat, in 1957, 1959, 1961, and 1963. She become assistant majority leader in 1960 and 1961. When she won her Senate seat in 1965, she was the first Democrat from Union County, New Jersey to be elected to the Senate in 75 years. She died on January 11, 1995 in Cranford, New Jersey. ^[1]

[edit] References

^ "Mildred Hughes, 92, New Jersey Senator", New York Times. Retrieved on 2007-05-22. "Mildred Barry Hughes, who in 1965 was the first woman elected a state senator in New Jersey, died on Jan. 11 at the Cranford, New Jersey Health and Extended Care Center. She was 92 and had lived for many years in Union Township, Union County, New Jersey The cause was a heart attack, said a son, Peter L. Hughes 3rd of Annandale, N.J. First elected to the New Jersey Assembly in 1957, she represented Union Township for four terms before running for the Senate in 1965. In that victory, she also was the first Democrat from Union County to be elected to the State Senate in 75 years. After writing a handbook for the Elizabeth League of Women Voters, she was persuaded to run for the Assembly. Defeated in her first attempt in 1955, she won in 1957 and rose to become assistant majority leader in 1960 and 1961. She served one term in the Senate. Her husband, Peter L. Hughes, Jr., died in 1971. Besides her son Peter 3d, she is survived by two other sons, W. Barry of Greenwood, S.C., and David J. of Short Hills, New Jersey ..."