Olympia Jean Snowe, born Olympia Jean Bouchles on February 21, 1947, is a renowned American businesswoman and politician who served as a United States Senator from Maine from 1995 to 2013. As a member of the Republican Party, she earned a reputation for her extraordinary ability to impact the outcome of close votes, particularly in regards to ending filibusters.
In 2006, her exceptional leadership and senatorial skills were recognized by Time magazine, which named her one of America's Best Senators. Throughout her Senate career, Snowe was widely regarded as one of the most moderate members of the chamber, known for her commitment to bipartisanship and her ability to work effectively across the aisle.
On February 28, 2012, Snowe made the unexpected announcement that she would not seek re-election in November 2012, and subsequently retired from the Senate when her third term came to an end on January 3, 2013. In her farewell address, she cited the increasing hyper-partisanship and resulting dysfunction in Congress as the primary motivation for her decision to leave the Senate.
Following her retirement, Snowe went on to become a senior fellow for the Bipartisan Policy Center, where she co-chairs the Commission on Political Reform, working tirelessly to promote greater political cooperation and reform.
