Mary Rose Oakar

Mary Rose Oakar (March 5, 1940 – September 13, 2025) was an American Democratic politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio, serving from 1977 to 1993. Oakar was the first Arab American woman, first Syrian American, and first Lebanese American woman to serve in Congress. She was also the first Democratic woman elected to the United States Congress from that state. Oakar later served as a member of the Ohio State Board of Education.

Infobox

Preceded by

James V. Stanton

Succeeded by

Martin Hoke (redistricted)

Leader

Tip O'NeillJim Wright

Born

(1940-03-05)March 5, 1940Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.

Died

September 13, 2025(2025-09-13) (aged 85)Lakewood, Ohio, U.S.

Political party

Democratic

Education

Ursuline College (BA)John Carroll University (MA)

Party

Democratic

Tables

· External links

Party political offices

U.S. House of Representatives

Party political offices

Preceded byGeraldine Ferraro

U.S. House of Representatives

Preceded byGeraldine Ferraro

U.S. House of Representatives

Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus 1985–1987

U.S. House of Representatives

Succeeded byHerselfas Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus

Preceded byHerselfas Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus

U.S. House of Representatives

Preceded byHerselfas Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus

U.S. House of Representatives

Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus 1987–1989

U.S. House of Representatives

Succeeded bySteny Hoyer

House of Representatives
Preceded byJames Stanton	Member of the U.S. House of Representativesfrom Ohio's 20th congressional district 1977–1993	Constituency abolished
Party political offices
Preceded byGeraldine Ferraro	Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus 1985–1987	Succeeded byHerselfas Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus
Preceded byHerselfas Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus	Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus 1987–1989	Succeeded bySteny Hoyer

References

Known as Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus until January 3, 1987
"OAKAR, Mary Rose, (1940 - )"
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=o000001
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/us/politics/mary-rose-oakar-dead.html
"Mary Rose Oakar: Representative, 1977–1993, Democrat from Ohio"
https://web.archive.org/web/20120222201917/http://womenincongress.house.gov/member-profiles/profile.html?intID=190
Women in Congress
https://web.archive.org/web/20080730211834/http://womenincongress.house.gov/data/leadership.html
"Congress comes down from the hill to bank with the rest of us"
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/chk/20000222.asp
The Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-02-23-mn-35284-story.html
"#102 Former Congresswoman Mary Oakar Rose Indicted"
https://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/Pre_96/February95/102.txt.html
"Mary Rose Oakar: Representative, 1977–1993, Democrat from Ohio"
https://web.archive.org/web/20120222201917/http://womenincongress.house.gov/member-profiles/profile.html?intID=190
The Plain Dealer
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1071159516/
American Journalism Review
http://www.ajr.org/article.asp?id=3313
"October 2, 2001 Summary Report"
http://boe.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf_boe/en-US/history/2001/100201_PE_Summary.txt
"ADC Expresses its Gratitude to Mary Rose Oakar for Over 6 Years of Service and Congratulates Sara Najjar-Wilson as New ADC President"
https://web.archive.org/web/20140719215158/http://www.arabamerica.com/illinois/news.php?id=1422
education.ohio.gov
https://web.archive.org/web/20130913200008/http://education.ohio.gov/getattachment/State-Board/State-Board-Members/Oakarbio.pdf.aspx
"Mary Rose Oakar, pioneering Ohio congresswoman, dies at 85"
https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/09/mary-rose-oakar-pioneering-ohio-congresswoman-dies-at-85.html
News 5 Cleveland
https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/former-congresswoman-cleveland-native-mary-rose-oakar-dies-at-85
"Supersisters: Original Roster"
https://www.espn.com/espnw/news-commentary/story/_/id/12535055/original-roster