Differences between Barbara Boxer and Carly Fiorina

Barbara Boxer and Carly Fiorina

Barbara Boxer and Carly Fiorina were the principal opponents in the 2010 United States Senate election in California. Boxer, a Democrat who had served in the Senate since 1993, faced a challenge from Fiorina, the former chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard and the Republican nominee. The contest was one of the most closely watched races during the 2010 midterm elections, as it pitted a veteran liberal legislator against a prominent corporate executive making her first bid for public office. Boxer won the election with 52.2% of the vote compared to Fiorina's 42.2%.

Comparison table

Category	Barbara Boxer	Carly Fiorina
Political party	Democratic	Republican
Primary career	Legislator (US House and Senate)	Corporate Executive (AT&T, Lucent, HP)
Election result (2010)	Winner (52.2%)	Defeated (42.2%)
View on abortion	Pro-choice; supported federal funding	Pro-life; opposed federal funding
Environmental policy	Supported cap-and-trade and AB 32	Opposed AB 32; skeptical of regulation
Foreign policy	Voted against the Iraq War (2002)	Supported the Iraq War and troop surge
Fiscal policy	Supported the 2009 Stimulus Act	Opposed the 2009 Stimulus Act

Venn diagram comparing Differences between Barbara Boxer and Carly Fiorina

Political and professional history

Barbara Boxer began her political career in the 1970s on the Marin County Board of Supervisors. She served five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives before her election to the Senate in 1992, a year often called the "Year of the Woman" due to the number of women elected to the chamber. During her tenure, Boxer focused on environmental protection, healthcare, and women's rights. She authored the Boxer-Sanders Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act and was a ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Carly Fiorina rose through the ranks of the telecommunications industry, becoming the first woman to lead a Fortune 20 company when she was named CEO of Hewlett-Packard in 1999. Her leadership was defined by the 2002 merger with Compaq, a move that was controversial among shareholders and the Hewlett family. She was fired by the HP board in 2005 following a period of declining stock value and internal disagreements. After leaving HP, she served as an advisor to John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign before announcing her own candidacy for the Senate.

2010 Senate election

The 2010 campaign focused heavily on the state of the economy and the record of the Obama administration. Fiorina criticized Boxer as a "career politician" and blamed her for California's high unemployment rate. Boxer countered by highlighting Fiorina's tenure at Hewlett-Packard, noting that the company had laid off 30,000 workers while Fiorina received a $21 million severance package.

Social issues also defined the race. Boxer maintained a consistent pro-choice platform, while Fiorina campaigned on a pro-life stance, which was a point of contention in a state that generally leans left on social issues. On the environment, Boxer defended California's Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), while Fiorina supported Proposition 23, a ballot measure intended to suspend the law until unemployment dropped.

The race gained national attention for its television advertisements. Fiorina's campaign released an ad during the primary titled "Demon Sheep," which targeted her Republican opponent Tom Campbell but drew widespread media commentary for its unusual imagery. Boxer's campaign utilized clips of Fiorina's hot-mic comments about Boxer's hair to paint the challenger as out of touch.