Cristina Bellot

Cristina Bellot de Kirchner (born February 19, 1953) is an American politician who is currently serving as the U.S. Representative from the 2nd district since 1999, having previously served in that position from 1993 to 1995. A Democrat, Bellot previously served as the 2nd United States Secretary of Homeland Security from 1997 to 1999 and as the 49th Governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1993.

Bellot was the only Latina serving in the House of Representatives and one of two Latinas to serve in the 103rd and 106th Congresses, the other being Claire Serrano. She was defeated for re-election by Larry Jobs in the 1994 midterms and unsuccessfully ran for the same seat in 1996. Upon her loss, she was nominated and confirmed to serve as the Secretary of Homeland Security and was sworn in on March 18, 1997. She resigned on January 2, 1999, to take office in the House of Representatives, after having won back her old seat in the 1998 midterm elections. She served as House Majority Whip from 2001 to 2005.