Hillary Clinton isn’t the only woman hoping to be elected president in 2016. Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina declared her candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on Monday morning.
“Yes, I am running,†Fiorina said on Good Morning America. “I think I’m the best person for the job because I understand how the economy actually works. I understand the world; who’s in it.â€
But who is Carly Fiorina, exactly? Here’s what you should know, both about her life and her stance on the issues.
1. She Was the First Woman to Lead a Fortune 20 Company
In 1999, Fiorina became the CEO of information technology company Hewlett-Packard. She reportedly had a temp job with the company when she was younger, doing filing and typing. She was forced to resign in 2005 after a boardroom struggle.
2. She’s a Cancer Survivor
The 60-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and underwent a double mastectomy.
3. She Ran for U.S. Senate in 2010
Just a year after her cancer diagnosis, Fiorina ran for a U.S. Senate seat in California against Barbara Boxer. At one event, she told supporters, “I have to say that after chemotherapy, Barbara Boxer just isn’t that scary anymore,†according to NPR. She lost the race.
4. She Married Her Coworker
Fiorina once worked with her now-husband Frank Fiorina at ATT, where he later became an executive. He got his start as a tow truck driver for a family-owned body shop.
5. She Dropped Out of Law School
After getting her undergrad degree from Stanford, Fiorina went to law school at her father’s suggestion. She later said that studying law wasn’t for her, and she dropped out after a semester. She went on to get dual master’s degrees from the University of Maryland and MIT.
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1. She’s Pro-Life
Fiorina recently pointed out on CSPAN that she ran for U.S. Senate as a “proud, pro-life conservative,†adding, “You don’t do that in California unless you really mean it.†She has said that exceptions should be made for cases of rape, incest, and maternal endangerment.
2. She Wants Tougher Foreign Policy
Fiorina has said that the Obama administration downplays the threat of Islamic extremism and said Hillary Clinton underestimated America’s enemies during her time as secretary of state.
3. She Wants to Reform Immigration Policy
Fiorina has said that she would support American citizenship for children of illegal immigrants if they graduate from college or serve in the armed forces.
4. She Supports Benefits for Same-Sex Couples
While Fiorina says she does not support same-sex marriage, she does support granting government benefits to same-sex couples.
5. She Wants to Repeal ObamaCare
In 2013, Fiorina said the Affordable Care Act is “fatally flawed†and has too many “unintended consequences.â€
Want to learn more about Fiorina? You can check out her official website and new book, Rising to the Challenge: My Leadership Journey, which is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, May 5.