List of United States politicians with doctorates

This is a list of notable United States politicians who have a research doctorate.

Federal government

Executive branch

Presidents

Name Party Term Field Institution Year
Woodrow Wilson Democrat 1913–1921 Political Science Johns Hopkins University 1886

Current and former cabinet members and senior administration officials

Name Party Department Term Administration Field Institution Year
Walt Rostow Democrat NSC 1966-1969 L. Johnson Economics Yale University 1940
Henry Kissinger Republican NSC/State 1969–1975, 1973–1977 Nixon/Ford Political Science Harvard University 1954
Edward H. Levi Republican Justice 1975–1977 Ford Law (JSD) Yale Law School 1938
George Shultz Republican Labor/OMB/Treasury/State 1969–1970, 1970–1972, 1972–1974, 1982–1989 Nixon/Reagan Economics Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1949
James R. Schlesinger Republican CIA/Defense/Energy 1973, 1973–1975, 1977–1979 Nixon/Ford/Carter Economics Harvard University 1956
Brent Scowcroft Republican NSC 1975–1977, 1989-1993 Ford/Bush Sr. International Relations Columbia University 1967
John Hamre Republican United States Deputy Secretary of Defense, Comptroller of the Department of Defense 1994–1997, 1997–2000 Clinton International Studies Johns Hopkins University 1978
W. Michael Blumenthal Democrat Treasury 1977–1979 Carter Economics Princeton University 1956
Zbigniew Brzezinski Democratic NSC 1977–1981 Carter Political Science Harvard University 1953
Harold Brown Independent Defense 1977–1981 Carter Physics Columbia University 1949
Ray Marshall Democratic Labor 1977–1981 Carter Economics University of California, Berkeley 1954
Lauro Cavazos Republican United States Secretary of Education 1988–1990 Bush Sr. Physiology Iowa State University 1954
Robert Gates Republican Central Intelligence Agency/Defense 1991–1993, 2006–2011 Bush Sr./Bush Jr./Obama Russian and Soviet History Georgetown University 1974
Les Aspin Democrat Defense 1993–1994 Clinton Economics MIT 1966
William Perry Independent Defense 1994–1997 Clinton Mathematics Pennsylvania State University 1957
Max Kampelman Democrat Counselor of the United States Department of State 1987–1989 Reagan Political science University of Minnesota 1952
Donna Shalala Democrat United States Secretary of Health and Human Services 1993–2001 Clinton Political Science Syracuse University 1970
John M. Deutch Democrat CIA 1995–1996 Clinton Chemistry Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1966
Madeleine Albright Democrat State 1997–2001 Clinton Political Science Columbia University 1975
Alan Greenspan Republican Chair of the Federal Reserve 1987–2006 Reagan/Bush Sr./Clinton/Bush Jr. Economics New York University 1977
Lawrence Summers Democrat Treasury 1999–2001 Clinton Economics Harvard University 1982
Ben Bernanke Republican Chair of the Federal Reserve 2006–2014 Bush Jr./Obama Economics Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1979
William J. Crowe Republican Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Ambassador to the United Kingdom 1985–1989; 1994–1997 Reagan/Bush Sr./Clinton Political Science Princeton University ?
Condoleezza Rice Republican State 2005–2009 Bush Jr. Political Science University of Denver 1981
David Petraeus Independent CIA 2011–2012 Obama International Relations Princeton University 1987
Sam Bodman Republican Energy 2005–2009 Bush Jr. Chemical Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1965
Steven Chu Democrat Energy 2009–2013 Obama Physics University of California, Berkeley 1976
Ernest Moniz Democrat Energy 2013–2017 Obama Theoretical Physics Stanford University 1972
Susan Rice Democrat NSC 2013–2017 Obama International Relations University of Oxford 1990
Ash Carter Democrat Defense 2015–2017 Obama Theoretical Physics St. John's College, Oxford 1979
John King Democrat Education 2016–2017 Obama Education Columbia University 2008
H. R. McMaster Independent NSC 2017–2018 Trump History University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 1997
Mark Esper Republican Defense 2019–2020 Trump Public policy George Washington University 2008
Janet Yellen Democrat Chair of the Federal Reserve/Treausry 2014-2018, 2021– Obama/Trump/Biden Economics Yale University 1971


Supreme Court Justices

Name Term Field Institution Year
Neil Gorsuch 2017– Legal Philosophy University College, Oxford 2004

Legislative branch

Current senators

Name Party State Term Field Institution Year
Tammy Duckworth Democrat Illinois 2017– Human Services Capella University 2014
Raphael Warnock Democrat Georgia 2021– Theology Union Theological Seminary 2006
Andy Kim Democrat NJ-03 2024– International Relations Oxford University 2010
Dave McCormick Republican Pennsylvania 2025– International Relations Princeton University 1996

Former senators

Name Party State Term Field Institution Year
Henry Cabot Lodge Republican Massachusetts 1893–1924 History Harvard University 1876
Paul Douglas Democratic Illinois 1949–1967 Economics Columbia University 1921
George McGovern Democratic South Dakota 1963–1981 History Northwestern University 1973
Tim Wirth Democratic Colorado 1987–1993 Marketing Stanford University 1973
Gary Hart Democratic Colorado 1975–1987 Politics St. Antony's College, Oxford 2001
Daniel Patrick Moynihan Democratic New York 1977–2001 History Tufts University 1961
S. I. Hayakawa Republican California 1977–1983 English University of Wisconsin–Madison 1935
John Porter East Republican North Carolina 1981–1986 Political science University of Florida 1964
Harrison Schmitt Republican New Mexico 1977–1983 Geology Harvard University 1964
Phil Gramm Republican Texas 1985–2002 Economics University of Georgia 1967
Paul Wellstone Democratic Minnesota 1991–2002 Political Science University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1969
Ben Sasse Republican Nebraska 2015–2023 History Yale University 2004
Kyrsten Sinema Independent Arizona 2019–2025 Justice Studies Arizona State University 2012

Current representatives

Name Party State Term Field Institution Year
Alma Adams Democrat NC-12 2014– Art Education and Multicultural Education Ohio State University 1981
Jim Baird[1] Republican IN-4 2019– Animal Science University of Kentucky 1975[2]
Danny K. Davis[3] Democrat IL-7 1997– Public Administration Union Institute & University 1977
Robin Kelly[4] Democrat IL-2 2013– Political Science Northern Illinois University 2004
Jerry McNerney[5] Democrat CA-11 2006– Mathematics University of New Mexico 1981
Bill Foster Democrat IL-11 2008, 2012– Physics Harvard University 1984
Judy Chu Democrat CA-27 2009– Psychology California School of Professional Psychology 1979
Shri Thanedar Democrat MI-13 2023– Chemistry (Polymers/Organometallics) University of Akron 1982
Tom Cole Republican OK-4 2003– British History University of Oklahoma 1984
Mike Turner Republican OH-10 2003– Urban Development (D.L.S.)[6] Georgetown University 2022
Dina Titus Democrat NV-1 2009– Political Science Florida State University 1976
Rob Wittman Republican VA-1 2007– Public Health Virginia Commonwealth University 2002
Alan Lowenthal[7] Democrat CA-47 2013– Psychology Ohio State University 1967
Julia Letlow Republican LA-05 2021– Communications University of South Florida 2012
Henry Cuellar Democrat TX-28 2005– Government University of Texas at Austin 1981
Randy Feenstra[4] Republican IA-4 2021– Business Northcentral University 2022
Johnny Olszewski Democrat MD-2 2025– Government Administration (public policy) University of Maryland, Baltimore County 2017

Former representatives

Name Party District Term Field Institution Year
Phil Gramm Republican Texas 1979–1983 Economics University of Georgia 1967
Dick Armey Republican Texas 1985–2003 Economics University of Oklahoma 1968
Phil Crane Republican IL-31 IL-12 IL-8 1969–2005 History Indiana University 1961
Tim Wirth Democratic Colorado 1975–1987 Marketing Stanford University 1973
Kyrsten Sinema Democrat AZ-9 2012–2019 Justice Studies Arizona State University 2012
Rush D. Holt Jr. Democrat NJ-12 1999–2014 Physics NYU 1981
Howard Wolpe Democrat MI-03 1979–1993 Political science MIT 1967
Les Aspin Democrat WI-01 1971–1993 Economics MIT 1966
James G. Martin Republican NC-09 1973–1985 Chemistry Princeton University 1960
Donald L. Ritter Republican PA-15 1979–1993 Physical Metallurgy Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1966
David Price Democrat NC–04 1987–1995; 1997–2023 Political Science Yale 1969
Heather Wilson Republican NM-1 1998–2009 International Relations Jesus College, Oxford 1985
Vern Ehlers Republican MI-03 1993–2011 Nuclear Physics UC Berkeley 1960
Bud Shuster Republican PA-09 1973–2001 Business and economics American University 1967
Roscoe Bartlett Republican MD-06 1993–2013 Physiology University of Maryland, College Park 1952
John Olver Democrat MA-1 1991–2013 Chemistry Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1961
Clarence Long Democrat MD-2 1963–1985 Economics Princeton University 1938
Mervyn Dymally Democrat CA-31 1981–1993 Human behavior United States International University 1978
Philip R. Sharp Democrat IN-10 IN-02 1975–1995 Government Georgetown University 1974
Bob Filner Democrat CA-50 CA-51 1993–2012 History of science Cornell 1969
Tom Lantos Democrat CA-11 CA-12 1981–2008 Economics University of California, Berkeley 1953
Newt Gingrich Republican GA-06 1979–1999 History Tulane University 1971
G. William Whitehurst Republican VA-02 1969–1987 History West Virginia University 1952
Floyd Fithian Democrat IN-02 1975–1983 American History University of Nebraska–Lincoln 1964
John Brademas Democrat IN-03 1959–1981 Social Studies Brasenose College, Oxford 1954
Weston E. Vivian Democrat MI-02 1965–1967 Electrical Engineering University of Michigan 1959
Chris Gibson Republican NY-19 2011–2017 Government Cornell University 1998
Timothy F. Murphy Republican PA-18 2003–2017 Clinical Psychology University of Pittsburgh 1979
Dave Brat Republican VA-7 2014–2019 Economics American University 1995
Dan Lipinski[8] Democrat IL-03 2005–2021 Political Science Duke University[9] 1998
Derek Kilmer Democrat WA–06 2013–2025 Social Policy Oxford University[10] 2003
Jody Hice Republican GA-10 2015–2023 Ministry Luther Rice College and Seminary 1988
Dave Loebsack[11] Democrat IA-2 2007–2021 Political Science University of California, Davis 1985
Donna Shalala Democrat FL-27 2019–2021 Political Science Syracuse University 1970
Andy Kim Democrat NJ-03 2019–2024 International Relations Oxford University 2010
Carolyn Bourdeaux[12] Democrat GA-7 2021–2023 Public Administration Syracuse University 2003
Mike Gallagher Republican WI-8 2017–2024 International Relations Georgetown University 2015
Jamaal Bowman Democrat NY-16 2021–2025 Educational leadership Manhattanville College 2019

State governments

State executives

Current governors

Name Party State Term Field Institution Year
Tony Evers Democrat Wisconsin 2019– Educational administration University of Wisconsin–Madison 1986

Former governors

Name Party State Term Field Institution Year
Dixy Lee Ray Democrat Washington 1977–1981 Biology Stanford University 1945
John H. Sununu Republican New Hampshire 1983-1989 Mechanical Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1966
Kenny Guinn Republican Nevada 1999–2007 Education Utah State University 1970
James G. Martin Republican North Carolina 1985–1993 Chemistry Princeton University 1960
Lee S. Dreyfus Republican Wisconsin 1979–1983 Communication University of Wisconsin–Madison 1957
Neil Abercrombie Democrat Hawaii 2010–2014 American Studies University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 1960s
Ted Strickland Democrat Ohio 2007–2011 Psychology University of Kentucky 1980
Eric Greitens Republican Missouri 2017–2018 Politics Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford 2000
Ricardo Rosselló New Progressive Puerto Rico 2017–2019 Biomedical Engineering University of Michigan 2007
Gina Raimondo Democrat Rhode Island 2015–2021 Sociology New College, Oxford 2002
Tom Wolf Democrat Pennsylvania 2015–2023 Political Science Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1981

Former lieutenant governors

Name Party State Term Field Institution Year
Sue Ellspermann Republican Indiana 2013–2016 Industrial Engineering University of Louisville 1997

References

  1. ^ Kirk, Mitchell (October 23, 2018). "District 4 race enters final stretch". Pharos-Tribune. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  2. ^ "Meet Jim – Jim Baird for Congress".
  3. ^ "Danny Davis' Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Doctoral Degree Holders in the UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS — July 1, 2025" (PDF). Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  5. ^ Gerald Mark McNerney at the Math Genealogy Project
  6. ^ "Turner Graduates from Georgetown University with Doctorate Degree". Congressman Michael Turner's House Website. United States House of Representatives. May 20, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  7. ^ "Biography". Congressman Alan Lowenthal. August 13, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  8. ^ "Biography". August 13, 2013.
  9. ^ "Duke Political Science Ph.D Placement". August 13, 2013. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013.
  10. ^ "KILMER, Derek". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  11. ^ Sweeney, Jim. "Darrell Steinberg". UC Davis Magazine. Archived from the original on July 8, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  12. ^ Friend, Lenore (July 13, 2021). "Into the Fray: Carolyn Bourdeaux G'03 Joins Congress Days Before Capitol Riot". Syracuse University Campus News. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
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