Aumua Amata Radewagen

Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen is an American Samoan politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for American Samoa in the House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party, she has held this position since January 3, 2015, after winning her first election in November 2014. Radewagen is notable for being the first woman to represent American Samoa in Congress and the first Republican to hold the delegate position since its inception in 1970. Throughout her political career, she has focused on various issues pertinent to her constituents and has been involved in multiple committees, reflecting her commitment to both local and national concerns.

Early life and career

Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen was born on December 29, 1947, to Peter Tali Coleman and Nora Stewart Coleman. Her father was the first popularly elected Governor of American Samoa, while her mother held the title of First Lady. Radewagen's heritage is diverse; her father was of Samoan and English descent, and her mother had Chinese, German, Native Hawaiian, and Scottish ancestry. Growing up in a large family, she has twelve siblings.

For her education, Radewagen attended Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu, Hawaii, before pursuing higher education at the University of Guam, where she earned a degree in psychology in 1975. She also took additional courses at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. In December 1971, she married Fred Radewagen, and together they have three children and two grandchildren. In her community, she holds the orator title of Aumua, which signifies her role as a talking chief from Pago Pago, her hometown.

Radewagen's professional career began in journalism, where she served as the chief diplomatic correspondent for the Washington Pacific Report from 1984 to 1997. Her political involvement began earlier, as she worked as an executive assistant to the first Delegate-at-Large from American Samoa. She also gained experience on Capitol Hill, working for U.S. Representatives Phil Crane and J.C. Watts, Jr. in various capacities from 1997 to 2005.

Her political aspirations led her to run for Congress in the 1994 elections, where she faced Democratic incumbent Eni Faleomavaega. Although she did not secure the nomination in subsequent attempts in 1996 and 2000, she remained active in politics, running as an independent in 1998. In 2001, she was appointed by President George W. Bush to the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, where she chaired the Community Security Committee, making her the only Pacific Islander on the commission. Radewagen continued her political engagement by representing the American Samoa Republican Party in the Republican National Committee since 1986, becoming its most senior member.

House tenure

Radewagen's tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives began after her election in November 2014, where she defeated the incumbent Eni Faleomavaega with a significant margin. Her victory marked a historic moment as she became the first Republican to hold the delegate position since it was established. Upon taking office on January 3, 2015, Radewagen achieved the distinction of being the highest-ranking Asian-Pacific federal officeholder in the United States.

In the 2016 election, Radewagen was re-elected with a remarkable 75.4% of the vote, which set a record for the highest number of votes received in American Samoa for any elective office. Her popularity continued in the 2018 election, where she won re-election with 83.3% of the votes in a competitive three-way race. Throughout her congressional career, Radewagen has demonstrated a commitment to her constituents and has been recognized for her bipartisan approach to governance. She was ranked as the 28th and 14th most bipartisan Representative in the 114th and 115th Congresses, respectively, according to The Lugar Center and McCourt School of Public Policy's Bipartisan Index.

Legislative focus and committees

During her time in Congress, Radewagen has served on several key committees that align with her legislative priorities. She is a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, where she serves on the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, as well as the Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific, where she holds the position of vice chair. Additionally, she is part of the Committee on Natural Resources, contributing to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs and the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries. Radewagen also serves as vice chair of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where she is involved with the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the Subcommittee on Health.

Radewagen's legislative interests extend beyond her committee assignments. She is a member of various caucuses, including the Congressional Western Caucus, the Climate Solutions Caucus, and the Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans. These affiliations reflect her engagement with a wide range of issues, from environmental concerns to international relations.

In addition to her legislative duties, Radewagen has been active in promoting democratic institutions globally. Since 1992, she has participated in international missions to countries such as Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, and Morocco, working with organizations like the International Republican Institute and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Her advocacy extends to health issues as well; after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993, she became a vocal advocate for breast cancer awareness.

Radewagen's contributions to American Samoa and her role in the U.S. Congress exemplify her commitment to public service and her constituents. As she continues her tenure, she remains a significant figure in American Samoan politics and a representative voice in the U.S. House of Representatives.