Marilyn Lloyd - Political and Congressional Career

Political and Congressional Career

Mort Lloyd was a popular television anchor at WDEF-TV in Chattanooga, who had entered the 1974 Democratic primary for Tennessee's 3rd congressional district, to oppose two-term incumbent Republican Congressman LaMar Baker. Lloyd won the primary in the Chattanooga-based district, but he was killed in an airplane crash on his way to celebrate the victory, and the Democratic Party selected his widow to replace him on the ballot. She went on to defeat Baker in the General Election in November.

That election saw many Republicans, in competitive and marginal districts, defeated, in large part because of the Watergate scandal. She became the first woman ever elected to Congress from Tennessee for a full term. Irene Baker and Louise Reece were both elected in special elections to succeed their husbands as caretakers and didn't run for a full term in the next election. Lloyd was considered a conservative Democrat by national standards, but a moderate by Tennessee standards. She often broke with the Democratic Party's national leadership, her views reflecting those of her conservative-minded district. She routed Baker in a 1976 rematch and, thereafter, faced serious opposition only three more times (1984, 1986, 1992).

Lloyd served on the House Science Committee for her entire congressional career. That committee had jurisdiction over legislation related to nuclear power facilities at Oak Ridge in her district. By the time of her retirement from Congress, she was the second-ranking Democrat on the committee. She was a strong advocate for the Clinch River Breeder Reactor project in Oak Ridge. She also served on the Committee on Public Works (1975–87), on the Armed Services Committee (1983–95), and on the House Select Committee on Aging for much of her congressional career.

When women members of the House formed a Women's Caucus in 1977, Lloyd was one of three congresswomen who declined membership, presumably because she feared alienating her constituents. She later joined the caucus but resigned in 1980 over political disagreements.

After she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991 and was denied a silicone breast implant because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had removed them from the market, Lloyd became an advocate for breast cancer treatment and women's health. She advocated for the availability of breast implants for reconstructive surgery.

Lloyd cosponsored legislation related to women's health, notably the Mammography Quality Standards Act, which was enacted in 1992. Lloyd also reversed her position on abortion, announcing on the floor of the House that she would no longer oppose abortion but would, instead, vote for a woman's right to choose.

In 1992, her Republican opponent was real estate broker Zach Wamp. While she defeated Wamp, her victory was by just one percent (2,900 votes) and only then because of the withdrawal of underground environmental candidate Peter Melcher. Lloyd lost badly in Hamilton County, home to Chattanooga, and retained her seat only with a strong showing in the Oak Ridge area. Despite Tennessee's Senator Al Gore being elected Vice President as Bill Clinton's running mate, the Clinton-Gore Democratic ticket won the 3rd District by only 39 votes out of 225,000 cast, one of their worst performances in the state. The closeness of the race is believed to have influenced her decision not to stand for an 11th term in 1994. She endorsed Wamp's bid for Congress that year, which may have contributed to his narrow victory.