People in the news

Linda E. McMahon (R)

Former Connecticut Senate Candidate (R)

Why She Matters

Before she was a candidate, McMahon had kicked a man in the groin, been slapped across the face by her daughter, and feigned a coma - all on television. In 2010, the former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) executive left the more unseemly aspects of her former career behind her to try for the Senate seat vacated by Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.). She was defeated by Democrat Richard Blumenthal.

McMahon spent millions of her own money to defeat her Republican primary opponent, and by the end of the election she had poured a total of $46 million more into the general election Her background in wrestling turned into a liability, however; her opponents painted her as an executive who sold "graphic sex and violence to children of all ages."

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: CEO of the World Wrestling Federation (1997 to 2009); Co-Founder of the WWE (since 1980)
Birthday: Oct. 4, 1948
Hometown: New Bern, N.C.

Alma Mater: East Carolina University, B.S. (French)
Spouse: Vince
Web site: www.Linda2010.com

Path To Power

An only child growing up in New Bern, N.C., McMahon started dating her future husband, Vince, at the age of 16. They married right after high school.

As a young couple, they moved to Gaithersburg, Md., and Vince began working for his father's company, Capitol Wrestling. Linda worked at the law firm Covington & Burling translating documents related to the estate of poet Ezra Pound. Ultimately, they moved to New England, where they founded what would become the WWE and bought Vince's father's company.

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McMahon managed the business side of affairs, and Hulk Hogan was one of WWE's first stars.

"When we did the first 'Wrestlemania,' " McMahon said, "I think we had everything, including our children, hawked."

Wrestling Business

As CEO, McMahon took WWE from a small, 13-worker company into a global, publicly-traded brand with over 500 Connecticut-based employees.

Along the way, McMahon was recognized as one of America's top female executives. In 2007, she was named one of Multichannel News's "Wonder Women" for her accomplishments as a leader in the cable-television industry.

But the rise into a successful wrestling empire wasn't without controversy. In 1991, the company instituted a stringest steroids-testing policy, which it dropped in 1996 amid higher salaries from rival companies and because, it said, the policy had been successful in quashing abuse.

Some of the WWE's staged wrestling matches were decidedly rated R, including explicit sex. But since June 2008, the fare has become more family-friendly and there have even been voter registration drives at wrestling rings.

Charitable Involvement

McMahon has also been active in a number of charitable organizations. She helped create the Get R.E.A.L. educational and literacy programs, and partnered with the Young Adult Library Services Association and youth division of the American Library Association in the WWE's nationwide Reading Challenge.

The WWE won the USO of Metropolitan Washington's first-ever "Legacy of Hope" award for its support of America's men and women in uniform; it received the Defense secretary's "Exceptional Public Service Award" for its support of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2005, McMahon was appointed to the National Advisory Council of The Make-A-Wish Foundation, which awarded WWE its highest honor. McMahon is a member of the board of directors of Sacred Heart University and the Close Up Foundation.

In 2009, Gov. Jodi Rell (R) appointed McMahon to serve on the Connecticut Board of Education.

2010 Senate Candidacy

In September 2009, McMahon resigned from her position as WWE's CEO to run for the U.S. Senate. A newcomer to politics, she said concern about runaway government spending/borrowing and the nation's dire economic condition motivated her candidacy.

The Issues

In the 2010 election ,McMahon opposed the December 2010 expiration of the 2001 and 2003 George W. Bush tax cuts for income, stock dividend and capital-gains slated because "no school of economics supports increasing taxes during a recession." She also opposed the reinstatement of the estate tax and supports a one-year elimination of the employer portion of the payroll tax.

She supported repeal/reform of all regulations that inhibit economic growth. McMahon opposed the so-called "card check" provision of the Employee Free Choice Act, which would eliminate secret-ballot union elections. She also said she would oppose cap-and-trade, which she will raise Connecticut households' electricity bill even higher.

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