Kathleen Sebelius
Health and Human Services Secretary (since April 2009)

A popular two-term Democratic governor in a predominantly Republican state, Sebelius became President Barack Obama's choice for Health and Human Services secretary in late February 2009. Sebelius made the cut after former HHS nominee Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) withdrew his name from contention because of tax problems, leaving Obama with a big void as he launched a sweeping effort to revamp health care. The Senate confirmed her in April 2009 after some concerns from conservatives regarding her pro-abortion rights stance.
During her eight years as Kansas insurance commissioner, Sebelius regulated insurance companies and developed a reputation for standing up for consumers. She prevented Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Kansas from being sold to an out-of-state company,
and attempted several changes to the health-care system that mostly failed.
- Career History: Governor of Kansas (2003 to February 2009); Kansas Insurance Commissioner (1995 to 2003); Kansas House of Representatives (1987 to 1995); Director, Kansas Trial Lawyers Association (1978 to 1986)
- Birthday: May 15, 1948
- Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
- Alma Mater: Trinity College, B.A. (political science), 1970; University of Kansas, M.P.A., 1977
- Spouse: The Honorable K. Gary Sebelius
Sebelius' father, John Gilligan, was a one-term Democratic governor of Ohio, who considered a presidential run in 1976 (Sebelius is the first daughter of a governor ever to be elected to the same position). She spent much of her childhood in Cincinnati, Ohio, helping out on her father's city council campaigns and, by the time she was in college, Sebelius was campaigning to elect her father governor.
Sebelius graduated from Trinity College in Washington, D.C., in 1970. There, she met Gary Sebelius, a Georgetown Law student, whose father Keith Sebelius, was a Republican congressman from Kansas. They married in the Ohio governor's mansion in 1974 and moved to Topeka, Kansas. Gary is now a federal magistrate judge for the District of Kansas, and likes to refer to himself as the "First Dude."
Salon.com has called Sebelius "a passionate advocate of political moderation, as oxymoronic as that may seem." That's how the governor who twice vetoed a bill allowing Kansans to carry concealed weapons and supports abortion rights succeeds in a state that hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964.
As Kansas governor, Sebelius developed a reputation as an efficient manager when she resolved a $1.1 billion budget deficit by ordering a thorough review of state government spending. She cut costs with measures such as reducing the state's motor vehicle pool and standardizing business cards. "While her administration suggested the initiatives led to $1 billion in savings, critics said the effort was more show than substance," the Associated Press reported.
Sebelius was an early Obama supporter, coming out in favor of the candidate in early 2008. She often represented him on the campaign trail, especially to women's groups.
Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) reportedly considered Sebelius as his vice presidential nominee in 2004.
- Kathleen Sebelius biography on the Governor's Web site
- Murray, Shailagh and Lori Montgomery, The Washington Post, "House Passes Health-Care Reform Bill without Republican Votes," March 22, 2010
- Cillizza, Chris, "For Gov. Sebelius, There's No Place Like Home," The Washington Post, December 8, 2008
- Berger, Joseph, The New York Times, "White House Appears Open to Insurance Co-Ops," Aug. 16, 2009
- Brown, Carrie Budoff, "Sebelius Paid over $7,000 in back taxes," Politico.com, March 31, 2009
- Kathleen Sebelius candidate profile, Associated Press, last updated February 6, 2009; Kathleen Sebelius biography on the Governor's Web site
- "Sebelius on health magazine's list," Wichita Business Journal, September 5, 2002
- Kraske, Steve and Goldstein, Dave, The Kansas City Star, "Analysis: Sebelius Knows of Tough Fight for Health Care Reform in Kansas," Feb. 21, 2009
- Shapiro, Walter, "Obama veepstakes: The other woman," Salon.com, July 7, 2008
- Sebelius, Kathleen, "If We Don't Stand Up for Our Children's Health-Who Will?" The Huffington Post, October 15, 2007
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