Ed Flanagan

Edward S. Flanagan, commonly known as Ed Flanagan, is an American politician from Vermont. Since January 2005, he has served as a Vermont State Senator. Flanagan graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in history/political science in 1973, and earned a J.D. from Harvard University in 1976. Beginning in 1977, Flanagan served in the Carter Administration as a policy analyst under Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Joseph ... more

Edward S. Flanagan, commonly known as Ed Flanagan, is an American politician from Vermont. Since January 2005, he has served as a Vermont State Senator. Flanagan graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in history/political science in 1973, and earned a J.D. from Harvard University in 1976. Beginning in 1977, Flanagan served in the Carter Administration as a policy analyst under Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Joseph Califano, before returning to the private practice of law in Vermont. Flanagan served as Vermont's State Auditor from 1993 through 2001, becoming the first openly gay, statewide-elected official in the United States. Flanagan was the Democratic nominee in the U.S. Senate contest in 2000, becoming the first openly gay individual to be nominated by a major party as a candidate for the United States Senate. In that election, Flanagan was defeated by incumbent U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords. His U.S. Senate campaign, like many of his campaigns before... less