Ainsley Bryant

Ainsley May Bryant (born March 26, 1950) is an American politician and constitutional scholar who is currently serving as the senior U.S. Senator from the Northwest since 2001. A Republican, Bryant previously served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court from 1999 to 2001, having also served on the Supreme Court from 1993 to 1995, and as the U.S. Representative from the 6th district from 1995 to 1997. Bryant also served as the President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate from 2003 to 2005.

Bryant managed the unsuccessful presidential campaign of Casey Booker in 1996. In 1995, she was appointed to the House of Representatives following the resignation of Will Thomas, who was elected in a special election but declined to take his seat due to his service on the Supreme Court. Bryant was named Speaker Pro Tempore during his brief tenure. After unsuccessfully running for the U.S. Senate in 1996, Bryant left the House of Representatives in 1997 and was replaced by Harper Moore. She was renominated and confirmed to her second stint on the Supreme Court in 1999, becoming the first person in U.S. history to serve nonconsecutively on the Supreme Court.

Following the resignation of Clay Jones, who was elected vice president in 2000, Bryant was appointed to the Senate and was sworn in as a U.S. senator on January 3, 2001. She served as minority whip until her election as president pro tempore on January 3, 2003.