Jackie Speier
#womenshistoryProfiles
Jackie Speier, a former U.S. Representative for California’s 14th congressional district, is known for her advocacy on a wide range of issues, including national security, human rights, and government accountability. She served in Congress from 2008 to 2023, but her career in politics began in the 1970s when she worked as a legislative assistant to Congressman Leo Ryan. In 1978, while accompanying Ryan on a fact-finding mission to Jonestown, Guyana, they were attacked by members of the Peoples Temple cult. Speier was shot five times and was left for dead on the airstrip. This horrific incident resulted in the death of Congressman Ryan and several others. Speier miraculously survived and, after enduring multiple surgeries and a long recovery, she returned to California to continue her career in public service.
In the years following the Jonestown tragedy, Speier served as a San Mateo County supervisor and later as a member of the California State Assembly and State Senate. In these roles, she focused on issues such as consumer protection, health care, and women’s rights.
Speier’s political career at the federal level began in 2008 when she won a special election to fill the seat of Congresswoman Tom Lantos, who had passed away. She was re-elected multiple times, representing her constituents in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Throughout her tenure in Congress, Speier was a vocal advocate for survivors of sexual assault and harassment. She has shared her own experience as a survivor and worked tirelessly to enact legislation aimed at preventing such incidents and supporting survivors.
In 2021, Speier announced she would not run for reelection, citing a desire to be closer to home in the Bay Area, and ended her federal service in 2023. Less than a year later, she announced she would run for a seat on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. “The people of District 1 know me, and I know them,” said Speier. “I will use the skills I’ve honed, the relationships I’ve built, and the experiences I’ve earned to fix problems our community confronts.” In March 2024, voters elected Speier by a margin of two-to-one.
In addition to her legislative work, Speier has authored several books, including her memoir Undaunted: Surviving Jonestown, Summoning Courage, and Fighting Back, which recounts her experience in Jonestown and her journey to recovery.