Affectionately referred to as "Dame Jennifer", she has marked her place in Bermuda's history as the first woman to lead a political party to an election victory, the first Progressive Labour Party Shadow Minister of Education,[2] the first and so far only leader of the PLP to lead the party to win two consecutive general elections, the first female Speaker of the House of Assembly and the second woman to serve as Premier.
Dame Jennifer was elected to the House of Assembly of Bermuda in 1989 as a member of the Progressive Labour Party.
She was elected deputy party leader in 1994, and succeeded to the leadership two years later upon the death of L. Frederick Wade.
After two years as Opposition Leader, Smith led her party to victory in parliamentary elections in November 1998, in which the United Bermuda Party, which had dominated elections since autonomy was gained in 1968, suffered an unprecedented defeat.
She was replaced by W. Alex Scott, but then was elected as Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.