Senator Hutchison grew up in La Marque, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas and UT Law School. She was twice elected to the Texas House of Representatives. In 1990, she was elected Texas State Treasurer.

In 1993, Texans elected Kay Bailey Hutchison to the United States Senate in a special election, making her the first -- and, to date, the only -- woman elected to represent the state in the Senate. One year later, she was re-elected to a full six-year term. And in 2000, she received more votes for her re-election to a second full term than any other statewide candidate had ever received. In 2006, she was again re-elected by an overwhelming margin. She serves in the Senate leadership, having been elected by her colleagues to be chairman of the Republican Policy Committee in the 110th Congress, making her the fourth-highest ranking Republican senator and the highest ranking Republican woman. Sen. Hutchison also serves on the Republican National Hispanic Assembly (RNHA) National Advisory Committee.

The senator lives in Dallas with her husband, Ray, and their two children, Bailey and Houston.