Maggie Jo Buchanan is the senior director and senior legal fellow for the Women’s Initiative at American Progress, where she leads interdisciplinary work on women’s economic security, health, and leadership.
Before her current role, Buchanan was the director of Courts and Legal Policy at American Progress, publishing widely cited reports on topics such as professional diversity on the federal bench and U.S. Supreme Court term limits. In addition, she previously served as an associate director for the Women’s Initiative, focused on women’s health and reproductive rights.
In addition to her work at American Progress, Buchanan has led policy initiatives at organizations such as Young Invincibles and NARAL Pro-Choice America. She also served as a senior legislative assistant to Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX). In that role, she managed significant portions of the congressman’s Ways and Means portfolio, including his work on health care, worker and family supports, and Social Security matters. Buchanan also has significant experience in the states, working in Texas on issues that include maternal health, reproductive rights, and the unique challenges facing student-parents.
Buchanan’s work has received extensive news coverage in NPR, PBS NewsHour, Bloomberg, The Guardian, the Houston Chronicle, The Texas Tribune, The Washington Post, Politico, and more. She earned her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
