Linda Kushner

Linda Jane Kushner (; born March 27, 1939) is an American former politician. A Democrat, she was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives for the 4th district from 1983 to 1993. She unsuccessfully ran in the 1994 United States Senate election in Rhode Island, but lost to Republican John Chafee.

Early life Kushner was born on March 27, 1939, to a Jewish family. She attended Brandeis University in Boston, Massachusetts, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1960. The next year, she received a masters of education from Boston University. As a college student, she travelled to Baltimore, Maryland, to receive an illegal abortion.

Political career A Democrat, Kushner was elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives in 1983, as the representative for the 4th district. She sponsored a gun control bill that would have banned "Saturday night specials" in 1989, when she was deputy majority leader. In 1993, she led a campaign to pass a bill in the state house that would have made abortion legal. It passed the lower chamber by a vote of 51–42 but failed to pass the state senate.

1994 Senate campaign

In 1994, Kushner decided not to run for re-election to her state legislature seat in order to join the United States Senate race in Rhode Island. She received the Democratic party's nomination after running unopposed in the primary. In the general, she challenged Republican incumbent John Chafee.

Personal life Kushner is married and has two children.