The Hill’s 2012 New Members Guide
Arizona
Sen.-elect Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.)
DATE OF BIRTH: Dec. 31, 1962
BIRTHPLACE: Snowflake, Ariz.
RESIDENCE: Mesa, Ariz.
OCCUPATION: Businessman
EDUCATION: B.A., Brigham Young University; M.A., Brigham Young University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: House of Representatives, 2000-2012
FAMILY: Wife, Cheryl; five children
Jeff Flake is moving across the Capitol, leaving the lower chamber for a seat in the Senate.
Flake beat Democrat Richard Carmona by calling him a “rubber stamp” for President Obama’s agenda.
Flake also pointed to his fiscally conservative record in the House, where he served on the House Appropriations Committee. He was an anti-earmark crusader long before the notion gained popularity among Tea Party supporters.
The Grand Canyon State has a significant elderly population, making Medicare a central issue of the campaign. Flake accused Carmona, a former U.S. Surgeon General, of supporting a $716 billion cut from Medicare to pay for Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
Flake won the seat of retiring Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz), keeping it in Republican control.
Rep.-elect Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.-01)
DATE OF BIRTH: March 24, 1950
BIRTHPLACE: McNary, Ariz.
RESIDENCE: Flagstaff, Ariz.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A. and J.D. from the University of Arizona
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: House of Representatives, 2009-2011
FAMILY: Husband, Roger; two children
Ann Kirkpatrick won back her 1st district seat after being ousted in the 2010 Republican wave. Redistricting made her seat friendlier to Democrats ahead of the 2012 election.
Kirkpatrick has resided in Arizona her entire life. She was born in McNary and attended the University of Arizona for both her undergraduate and law degree. As a member of Congress, she served on three committees — Homeland Security, Small Business and Veterans’ Affairs.
Previously, Kirkpatrick served in the Arizona House of Representatives, where she was the ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee.
Both party committees and outside groups spent heavily on this open contest.
The seat opened when Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz), who took the seat from Kirkpatrick in 2010, chose to run in the 4th district after redistricting.
Rep.-elect Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.-05)
DATE OF BIRTH: Jan. 21, 1958
BIRTHPLACE: Salt Lake City
RESIDENCE: Mesa, Ariz.
OCCUPATION: Partner, Upstream Consulting Inc.
EDUCATION: B.A., Arizona State University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: House of Representatives, 1st congressional district of Arizona, 1995-2001; Arizona State Senate, 1991-1995
FAMILY: Wife, Nancy; four children
Matt Salmon returns to Congress after a 12-year absence.
Formerly of Arizona’s 1st district, Salmon voluntarily gave up his seat in 2001, honoring a term-limit pledge. Soon after, he ran to be governor of Arizona in 2002. He narrowly lost by 12,000 votes to Democrat Janet Napolitano, who went on to become the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in the Obama administration.
The 5th district seat opened when Republican Rep. Jeff Flake decided to run for the Senate. Salmon beat out Arizona House Speaker Kirk Adams by 8 points in the primary to fill the safe GOP seat.
After leaving office in the early 2000s, Salmon worked as a lobbyist. He ended his tenure at Upstream Consulting Inc. in 2012 to run for Congress.
A member of the Mormon Church, he completed his mission in Taiwan. Salmon speaks fluent Mandarin.
Arkansas
Rep.-elect Tom Cotton (R-Ark.-04)
DATE OF BIRTH: May 13, 1977
BIRTHPLACE: Dardanelle, Ark.
RESIDENCE: Dardanelle, Ark.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer, business consultant
EDUCATION: B.A., J.D., Harvard University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Single
A veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Tom Cotton won the previously Democratic seat after Rep. Mike Ross, a 12-year incumbent and member of the Blue Dog Coalition, chose not to run.
The district was made more competitive after the redistricting process.
Cotton received his undergraduate and law degree from Harvard University. Upon graduation, he clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals.
He says the Sept. 11 attacks in New York prompted him to enrolled in the Army, volunteering as an officer in the infantry.
He first served in Iraq in 2006, and in 2008 deployed to Afghanistan. Between overseas stints, he served on The Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery. He was awarded the Bronze Star.
Following his military service, Cotton worked at a consulting firm in Washington, D.C.
California
Rep.-elect Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.-01)
DATE OF BIRTH: July 2, 1960
BIRTHPLACE: Oroville, Calif.
RESIDENCE: Richvale, Calif.
OCCUPATION: Farmer
EDUCATION: B.A., California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: California state senator, 2010-2012; California State Assembly, 2002-2008
FAMILY: Wife, Jill; four children
Doug LaMalfa manages his family’s rice farming business and describes himself as a fourth-generation farmer.
He retired from the state assembly to make his run for an open seat in the U.S. House. He focused his campaign on land issues and agriculture in his northern California district. He earned is degree in agriculture business.
LaMalfa authored a constitutional amendment again eminent domain abuse and has fought for California water rights, arguing that human need trumps the environmental regulations put in place to protect endangered species.
He has held elected office for 10 years, spending the maximum allotted six years in the California Assembly before moving to the state Senate.
He won an eight-person primary easily, beating out his closest opponent, Democrat Jim Reed, by 13 points. California has a top-two primary system, in which the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, go on to compete in the general election.
The 1st District holds a 13 percent Republican advantage.
Rep.-elect Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02)
DATE OF BIRTH: Feb. 18, 1964
BIRTHPLACE: Independence, Mo.
RESIDENCE: San Rafael, Calif.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A., UC Santa Barbara; J.D., Boston College Law School
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: California State Assembly (2006-present); president of Marin Municipal Water District Board (1995-2006)
FAMILY: Wife, Susan; two children
Jared Huffman won election in the open 2nd District by emphasizing his environmental background.
Huffman will replace 20-year veteran Democratic Rep. Lynn Woolsey after she chose to retire this year. Huffman won this safely Democratic district after garnering more than twice as many votes as his closest Democratic primary opponent.
He comes to the House after serving six years in the state assembly, where he chaired the Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee and co-chaired the Environmental Caucus. Prior to that, Huffman was senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council and served as president of the Marin Municipal Water District Board.
On his website, Huffman says four of his top five priorities are environment-related — including combating global warming, advancing clean energy solutions and resolving natural-resource conflicts.
Before earning a law degree from Boston College, Huffman attended UC Santa Barbara, where he was a three-time NCAA All-American volleyball player.
Rep.-elect Paul Cook (R-Calif.-08)
DATE OF BIRTH: March 3, 1943
BIRTHPLACE: Meriden, Conn.
RESIDENCE: Yucca Valley, Calif.
OCCUPATION: Professor
EDUCATION: B.S., Southern Connecticut State University; M.A., political science, University of California, Riverside; M.A., public administration, CSU San Bernardino
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: California State Assembly (2006-present); Yucca Valley, Calif., mayor
FAMILY: Wife, Jeannie
A California assemblyman, Paul Cook won election after beating a Tea Party-backed candidate in an open Republican-vs.-Republican race.
Cook is a retired colonel in the Marine Corps who served for 26 years. He earned the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts serving in Vietnam.
He was seen as the establishment candidate in the race against Gregg Imus, who co-founded a border-watching group in California and held the backing of former presidential candidate Herman Cain.
Covering a large swath in the state’s southeast, the newly drawn 8th district was left open after Rep. Jerry Lewis (R) decided not to run.
Prior to becoming an assemblyman, Cook was mayor of Yucca Valley, Calif., and served on the City Council. He holds master’s degrees in political science and public administration and has taught at multiple universities.
In the campaign, he won endorsements from high-profile California GOP congressmen like Reps. Buck McKeon and Darrell Issa.
Rep.-elect Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.-15)
DATE OF BIRTH: Nov. 16, 1980
BIRTHPLACE: Sac City, Iowa
RESIDENCE: Dublin, Calif.
OCCUPATION: Prosecutor
EDUCATION: B.A. and J.D., University of Maryland
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Dublin City Council
FAMILY: Single
Eric Swalwell, 32, defeated 40-year incumbent and fellow Democratic Rep. Pete Stark in an upset victory in California’s 15th district.
Swalwell enters Congress with two years experience on the city council in Dublin, Calif. He also served as a prosecutor of the Alameda County District Attorney’s office.
One of Swalwell’s signature issues during the campaign was his idea for a mobile Congress that would allow members to cast votes and hold hearings while working remotely in their districts.
The Democratic Party largely backed the veteran, but Swalwell’s long-shot bid was helped when Stark accused Swalwell of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. Stark quickly retracted that statement and apologized for it, but local news outlets reported it as one in a series of gaffes by Stark that eroded his support.
Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.-21)
DATE OF BIRTH: April 14, 1977
BIRTHPLACE: Hanford, Calif.
RESIDENCE: Hanford, Calif.
OCCUPATION: Farmer/small-business owner
EDUCATION: Attended College of the Sequoias
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: California State Assembly
FAMILY: Wife; three children
David Valadao won the newly drawn 21st district in the central valley of California, running on his credentials in the dairy industry.
Since 2010, he has been a member of the state assembly, where he is vice chairman of the Agriculture Committee. He has been an advocate for updates to California’s water infrastructure.
As the managing partner of his family’s dairy company, he has led a regional leadership council for Land O’Lakes and taken a leadership role with the Milk Advisory Board.
Valadao’s parents are immigrants from Portugal who moved to the area in the 1960s and soon started the business that Valadao manages today.
The only candidate that actually lived in the district, Valadao held on to this safe Republican district. Democratic Rep. Jim Costa, who had held the seat, ran in a different one following the redistricting process.
Rep-elect. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26)
DATE OF BIRTH: Oct. 28, 1952
BIRTHPLACE: Aiken, S.C.
RESIDENCE: Oak Park, Calif.
OCCUPATION: California state assemblywoman
EDUCATION: B.A., George Washington University; M.B.A., American University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: California State Assembly (2006-present)
FAMILY: Two children
After serving in the California Assembly for six years, Julia Brownley will take office in the 26th district, flipping party control to a Democrat.
Brownley has spent nearly 20 years in elected office. She served as a school board member for 12 years before running for California Assembly , where term limits prevented her from running for another term. She chaired the Education Committee in her six-year tenure.
She worked in marketing as a sales manager and product manager for 20 years following college.
An endorsement from the Los Angeles Times described Brownley as a champion of real-world pragmatism, similar to that of her predecessors in the seat.
The new 26th district is made up of two Republican seats currently held by Reps. Elton Gallegly and David Dreier, who are both retiring. It has become a battleground district because of the even split in party identification and the large number of independents.
Rep.-elect Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.-29)
DATE OF BIRTH: March 31, 1963
BIRTHPLACE: Los Angeles
RESIDENCE: Los Angeles
OCCUPATION: State senator
EDUCATION: Duke University; Vanderbilt School of Law
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Los Angeles City Council; California State Assembly
FAMILY: Wife, Norma; three children
Los Angeles City Councilman Tony Cardenas sailed easily to victory in this newly created district.
Cardenas avoided a tough Democratic challenger when Rep. Howard Berman, whose old district makes up a portion of the new map, decided to run in another district. Cardenas is the first Hispanic to represent the San Fernando Valley in this majority-minority district.
In the general election, Cardenas faced a conservative third-party candidate.
He served the maximum three terms in the California State Assembly, where he chaired the Budget Committee. He served on the Lost Angeles City Council for the last eight years, where he worked to stymie gang activities and promote clean energy. In the council, he served on the Business Tax Reform Committee and chaired the Natural Resources Committee and the Gang Violence and Youth Development Committee.
Rep.-elect Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Calif.-35)
DATE OF BIRTH: Sept. 6, 1941
BIRTHPLACE: Los Angeles
RESIDENCE: Chino, Calif.
OCCUPATION: State senator
EDUCATION: A.A., Chaffey College
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: California State Senate; California State Assembly
FAMILY: Husband, Gilbert; 10 children
Democrat Gloria Negrete McLeod had a helping hand from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) in her victory over Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.).
McLeod is a six-year veteran of the California State Senate, where she leads the Public Employment and Retirement Committee. She serves on three additional committees — business, ethics and veterans affairs. Prior to her time in the state Senate, she spent six years in the state Assembly.
Bloomberg’s super-PAC dumped nearly $3 million into the race to unseat Baca, who holds high grades with the National Rifle Association.
The New York mayor is a strong advocate of stronger gun control laws, and he made the election of candidates who share that view central to his super-PAC spending. McLeod holds a “D” rating on the NRA’s scorecard due to her support of gun control.
Rep.-elect Mark Takano (D-Calif.-41)
DATE OF BIRTH: Dec. 10, 1960
BIRTHPLACE: Riverside, Calif.
RESIDENCE: Riverside, Calif.
OCCUPATION: Teacher
EDUCATION: B.A., Harvard; M.A., University of California, Riverside
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: California State Assembly (2006-present); president of Marin Municipal Water District Board (1995-2006)
FAMILY: N/A
High school teacher Mark Takano needed three tries to make his way to Congress.
Twenty years went by between his first failed run and his win this year. In 1992, Takano ran for the open seat against GOP Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) but lost by 550 votes. In 1994, he tried for the seat once more and again was displaced by Calvert.
But 18 years later, the redistricting process drew Calvert into new territory. Takano takes office in the newly created 41st district, which makes up a portion of the district he ran in 18 years ago.
Prior to his first congressional run, Takano was elected to the Riverside Community College board of trustees, where he has sat since in 1990. He was elected president the next year.
He is a supporter of job training and technical education, and opposes the No Child Left Behind law.
Rep.-elect Janice Hahn (D-Calif.-44)
DATE OF BIRTH: March 30, 1952
BIRTHPLACE: Los Angeles
RESIDENCE: Los Angeles
OCCUPATION: House of Representatives
EDUCATION: B.S., Abilene Christian University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: House of Representatives (2011-present); Los Angeles City Council (2001-2011)
FAMILY: Three children
Janice Hahn was the only candidate this cycle who had experience running in the new California election format, giving her the edge in a Democratic member vs. member district.
Hahn was first elected to the House in a 2011 special election to replace former Rep. Jane Harman (D) — under the new system, the top two vote-getters in the primary advance to the general, regardless of party.
In 2011, she beat out a Tea Party Republican in the general. But this year, two Democratic incumbents made the cut.
Hahn defeated fellow Democratic Rep. Laura Richardson, who fought an ethics battle and struggled with fundraising.
In Congress, Hahn sits on the Homeland Security Committee and the Small Business Committee. She comes from political pedigree; her father served as a Los Angeles county supervisor for years and her brother is the former mayor.
Rep.-elect Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.-47)
DATE OF BIRTH: March 8, 1941
BIRTHPLACE: New York City
RESIDENCE: Long Beach, Calif.
OCCUPATION: Professor
EDUCATION: B.A., Hobart College; Ph.D., Ohio State University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: California State Senate (2005-present); California State Assembly (1998-2004)
FAMILY: Wife, Deborah; two children
Alan Lowenthal, a former California state senator, partly credits himself for the creation of the body that drew his newly minted district.
Along with job creation and environmental stewardship, Lowenthal says his top accomplishments are in government reform. On his website, he credits himself as the first legislator to fight for an independent commission that headed redistricting after the 2010 Census, which led to an increase in the number of competitive races in California.
He is a seven-year member of the state Senate, where he sat as vice chairman of the Legislative Ethics Committee and chaired the Education Committee and Transportation Committee. Before that, he served six years in the state Assembly and sat on the Long Beach City Council.
Lowenthal holds a Ph.D. in psychology and is a professor at California State University, Long Beach.
The 47th district encompasses Long Beach and Orange County, holding about a 10-point Democratic registration advantage.
Rep.-elect Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-51)
DATE OF BIRTH: March 7, 1961
BIRTHPLACE: National City, Calif.
RESIDENCE: San Diego, Calif.
OCCUPATION: California state senator
EDUCATION: B.A., University of San Diego; M.A., Fordham University; J.D., Harvard
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: California State Senate, 2010-present; California State Assembly, 2001-2006; San Diego City Council, 1993-2000
FAMILY: Wife, Adrienne; two children
Juan Vargas has spent nearly 20 years in elected office in California and promotes himself as a classmate of President Obama at Harvard Law School.
The seat in the 51st district opened when Dem Rep. Bob Filner announced his run for San Diego mayor. Vargas had made three previous attempts at the seat in the safely Democratic district.
Three years after he graduated for Harvard Law School, Vargas joined the San Diego City Council then moved up to the California State Assembly. He left office to help head two insurance groups after sitting on the Insurance Committee in the state Assembly.
Since 2010 he served in the state Senate, where he represented the entire California-Mexico border.
In his younger days, Vargas served as a member of the Catholic religious order of Jesuits. He focused on health and welfare of children, including doing a stint in El Salvador.
Connecticut
Sen.-elect Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)
DATE OF BIRTH: Aug. 3, 1974
BIRTHPLACE: White Plains, N.Y.
RESIDENCE: Cheshire, Conn.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A., Williams College; J.D., University of Connecticut School of Law
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: House of Representatives, 2007-2012; Connecticut State Senator, 2003-2007; State Representative, 1999-2003
FAMILY: Wife, Catherine; two children
Winning the seat of retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) was supposed to be a cakewalk for Chris Murphy, but his opponent, billionaire Linda McMahon, made the race more competitive than anticipated.
In the solidly blue state, healthcare and women’s issues became the focus of the campaigns, but Murphy proved to voters that he would be friendlier to women’s issues such as abortion rights. He pointed out McMahon’s support for an amendment by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) that would have allowed employers to refuse to cover contraception and other medical costs, and her desire to overturn the Affordable Care Act. Murphy also touted his role in helping to craft the healthcare reform law, while serving on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
McMahon, the former professional wrestling executive who had a tough time relating to voters in the 2010 Senate race, went after Murphy for his 2007 home foreclosure and for missing mortgage payments.
Rep.-elect Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.-05)
DATE OF BIRTH: Aug. 25, 1959
BIRTHPLACE: Oak Park, Ill.
RESIDENCE: Cheshire, Conn.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A., Harvard; J.D. Yale
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Connecticut House of Representatives (2009-2011), Cheshire Town Council (2005-2008)
FAMILY: Husband, Dan; three children
A former professor and attorney, Elizabeth Esty was not the Democratic Party’s first choice to fill the open 5th district seat.
She won election after Rep. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) gave up the seat to run for Senate. The party and labor organizations originally backed her Democratic primary challenger, but her opponent soon became entangled in a campaign finance scandal, and Esty won the Democratic nomination.
Esty has a background in the medical field. She mentions her volunteer work with Planned Parenthood on her website. She worked as researcher at Yale law school, specializing in healthcare policy and has drafted Supreme Court briefs for medical providers.
After graduating from Harvard, Esty received her law degree from Yale. She has previously worked as a professor at American University and clerked for a federal judge.
Voters elected Esty to the Connecticut House in 2008, but she lost reelection after two years.
Florida
Rep.-elect Ted Yoho (R-Fla.-3)
DATE OF BIRTH: April 13,1955
BIRTHPLACE: Minneapolis, Minn.
RESIDENCE: Gainesville, Fla.
OCCUPATION: Veterinarian, small-business owner
EDUCATION: B.A., University of Florida; DVM, UF College of Veterinary Medicine
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Carolyn; three children
Ted Yoho has won the seat in Florida’s 3rd congressional district, beating out Democrat J.R. Gaillot, Jr. and independent Phil Dodds. He will replace a senior GOP congressman, Rep. Cliff Stearns, whom he defeated in the GOP primary despite Stearns’s $2.5 million war chest.
Yoho has never before held an office nor run for one until now.
A veterinarian and small-business owner, as well as a member of several professional veterinary organizations, Yoho received endorsements from many different corners. In addition to many fellow veterinarians and businessmen with ties to Florida, Yoho was endorsed by retiring Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and retired professional wrestler Dustin Rhodes.
Rep.-elect Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.-6)
DATE OF BIRTH: Sept. 14, 1978
BIRTHPLACE: Jacksonville, Fla.
RESIDENCE: Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
OCCUPATION: Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) officer in Naval Reserve; author
EDUCATION: B.A., Yale University; J.D., Harvard Law School
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Casey
Republicans picked up a newly drawn 6th district in Florida with a victory by JAG Officer Ron DeSantis.
After working to put himself through Yale University, he went on to earn his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School and receive a commission as a Navy JAG officer. A highly decorated serviceman, DeSantis served in the Iraq War as an adviser to a U.S. Navy SEAL commander, and has prosecuted a wide range of federal and military cases, including corruption and “stolen valor” offenses.
He serves as an officer in the Navy Reserve, and his writings have appeared in outlets such as National Review Online, The American Spectator, American Thinker and Human Events. In addition, DeSantis is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion.
DeSantis emerged victorious from a crowded Republican primary before defeating Democrat Heather Beaven, a fellow veteran of the Navy.
Rep.-elect Alan Grayson (D-Fla.-09)
DATE OF BIRTH: March 13, 1958
BIRTHPLACE: New York, N.Y.
RESIDENCE: Orlando, Fla.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A., J.D., M.P.P, Harvard University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: House of Representatives, 2008-2010
FAMILY: Wife, Lolita; five children
Former Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) beat Republican opponent Todd Long and will return to the House for his second, non-consecutive term.
Grayson is well-known for his confrontational style and liberal politics. He will represent Florida’s new and heavily Democratic 9th district.
He formerly served on the Financial Services Committee and the Science and Technology Committee. During his previous term in office, he was an ardent supporter of President Obama’s healthcare law. He was swept away in the Republican wave election of 2010, losing to Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) by nearly 20 points.
Grayson chose to compete in the open 9th district this cycle and avoided another run against Webster.
The Democrat is the former president and founder of IDT Corp., a telephone service company. Grayson also practices law and often touts his successful litigation of a fraud case against war profiteers.
Rep.-elect Trey Radel (R-Fla.-19)
DATE OF BIRTH: April 20, 1976
BIRTHPLACE: Cincinnati, Ohio
RESIDENCE: Ft. Myers, Fla.
OCCUPATION: Broadcast/media, small-business owner
EDUCATION: B.S., Loyola
University Chicago
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Amy; one son
The Republicans held onto Rep. Connie Mack’s old seat in Florida’s 19th congressional district after he retired to run for the Senate thanks to Trey Radel’s victory over Democrat James Roach and independent Brandon Smith.
A well-known media personality in southwest Florida because of his conservative radio and television show “Daybreak,” Radel received plenty of Tea Party support in the conservative district. He managed to beat out five other opponents in the crowded GOP primary field, including one opponent, Chauncey Goss, who had been endorsed by GOP vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan (Wis.).
However, Radel received endorsements of his own from Mack and former Sen. Connie Mack III, the congressman’s father, who himself served as southwest Florida’s representative in the 1980s.
Rep.-elect Lois Frankel (D-Fla.-22)
DATE OF BIRTH: May 16, 1948
BIRTHPLACE: New York City
RESIDENCE: Palm Beach
Gardens, Fla.
OCCUPATION: Mayor
EDUCATION: B.A., Boston University; J.D., Georgetown
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Mayor, West Palm Beach, Fla., 2003-2011; Florida House of Representatives, 1987-2002
FAMILY: One son
Lois Frankel, former mayor of West Palm Beach, bested former state Rep. Adam Hasner (R) for a Democratic victory in Florida’s newly drawn 22nd congressional district.
During her eight years as mayor of West Palm Beach, Frankel focused primarily on her city’s economic development and revitalization of several neighborhoods. Prior to her time as mayor, Frankel served two separate terms in the Florida House of Representatives. During her original tenure, she served as House majority whip and went on in her second term to become the first woman to serve as the Democratic leader in the state House.
This was Frankel’s second attempt to become a member of the U.S. House. She ran a losing campaign in 1992 and returned to the Florida House of Representatives two years later.
Rep.-elect Joe Garcia (D-Fla.-26)
DATE OF BIRTH: Oct. 12, 1963
BIRTHPLACE: Miami Beach, Fla.
RESIDENCE: Miami Beach, Fla.
OCCUPATION: Business
executive
EDUCATION: B.A., University of Miami; J.D., University of Miami
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: One daughter
A first-generation American and native of South Florida, Joe Garcia scored a pickup for Democrats in Florida’s 26th congressional district by defeating scandal-plagued incumbent Rep. David Rivera (R).
A graduate of the University of Miami, Garcia has been involved in public service for more than two decades. He was appointed chairman of the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) by then-Gov. Lawton Chiles, and continued to serve there under both Democratic and Republican governors. While serving as part of the PSC, he helped to put in place the biggest rate cut in the PSC’s history, saving Florida families money on their electricity bills.
This was Garcia’s second congressional race. In 2008, he came within a point of upending Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R) in the 21st district. President Obama later picked Garcia to lead the Office of Minority Economic Impact and Diversity at the U.S. Department of Energy.
Rivera, Garcia’s opponent, was dogged during his campaign by investigations into allegations he secretly financed one of Garcia’s opponents in the Democratic primary.
Georgia
Rep.-elect Douglas Allen Collins (R-Ga.-9)
DATE OF BIRTH: Aug. 16, 1966
BIRTHPLACE: Gainesville, Ga.
RESIDENCE: Gainesville, Ga.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.S., North Georgia College; M.Div., New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; J.D., John Marshall School of Law
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: House of Representatives
FAMILY: Wife, Lisa; three children
Republicans picked up an open seat in the newly redrawn 9th district with Doug Collins’s victory over Democrat Jody Cooley.
Collins is a former small-business owner who practices law as the managing partner of Collins & Csider in Gainesville, Ga. He is also a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, based out of Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Ga., and served a combat tour in Iraq at Balad Air Base. He also served as pastor at Chicopee Baptist Church in Gainesville for 11 years.
A graduate of the Georgia Legislative Leadership Institute, Doug first won election to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2006, where he served the 27th district. He then became an administrative floor leader for Gov. Nathan Deal (R), who preceded him in the 9th district, and served as secretary of the House Appropriations Committee.
Hawaii
Sen.-elect Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii)
DATE OF BIRTH: Nov. 3, 1947
BIRTHPLACE: Fukushima, Japan
RESIDENCE: Honolulu, Hawaii
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A., University of Hawaii; J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD:
House of Representatives, 2006-2012; lieutenant governor, 1994-2002; state representative, 1980-1994
FAMILY: Husband, Leighton; one stepchild
Mazie Hirono is the first female of Asian ancestry to serve in the U.S. Senate; she was also the first to serve in the House.
Her Japanese heritage likely helped her in a state where 14 percent of its population is Japanese-American. Having native son President Obama at the top of the ticket was also seen as a boon to her campaign.
Hirono defeated popular former Gov. Linda Lingle (R), in a state that is strongly Democratic. The two were running to replace retiring Sen. Daniel Akaka (D).
As a member of the House, Hirono successfully advanced bills dealing with early childhood education. She said her inspiration was her brother, who struggled in school.
Rep.-elect Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii-02)
DATE OF BIRTH: April 12, 1981
BIRTHPLACE: Leloaloa, American Samoa
RESIDENCE: Honolulu, Hawaii
OCCUPATION: Honolulu City Councils
EDUCATION: B.A., Hawaii Pacific University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Hawaii State Legislature
FAMILY: N/A
Tulsi Gabbard was barely 30 when she was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature, making her the youngest person ever elected to that body.
After just two years there, she left to be voluntarily deployed to Iraq with the Hawaii National Guard, and served two tours in the Middle East.
She also has experience in Washington. D.C. In 2006, she was a legislative aide to Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), and advised him on energy, security, the environment and veterans’ issues. She replaces Democratic Rep. Mazie Hirono, who left the House to run for the Senate.
Since 2010, she has served on the Honolulu City Council, and chairs the Safety, Economic Development, and Government Affairs Committee. She is also vice chairwoman of the Budget Committee.
Illinois
Rep.-elect Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.-08)
DATE OF BIRTH: March 12, 1968
BIRTHPLACE: Bangkok, Thailand
RESIDENCE: Hoffman Estates, Ill.
OCCUPATION: N/A
EDUCATION: B.A., University of Hawaii; M.A. George Washington University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Assistant secretary at Veterans Affairs, 2009-2011; director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, 2006-2009
FAMILY: Husband, Bryan
A former member of the Obama administration and a military officer, Tammy Duckworth was heavily recruited to run in the 8th district.
She ousted freshman Tea Party favorite Rep. Joe Walsh this year after running an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 2006. She had heavy support from the party, including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Obama adviser David Axelrod.
Duckworth is a lieutenant colonel in the Illinois National Guard. She lost both legs and partial use of her right arm piloting a Black Hawk helicopter in Iraq that was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in 2004. She has since worked extensively with veterans.
She previously served as director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. The Obama administration tapped her as assistant secretary of Veterans Affairs in 2009, where she served for two years.
Rep.-elect Brad Schneider (D-Ill.-10)
DATE OF BIRTH: Aug. 20, 1961
BIRTHPLACE: Denver
RESIDENCE: Deerfield, Ill.
OCCUPATION: Management consultant
EDUCATION: B.S., Northwestern; MBA, Northwestern
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Julie; two sons
Brad Schneider is a small-business owner who helps coach other family-owned businesses, and he is looking to use the lessons learned in that capacity in his new job in Washington.
Schneider says he wants to find “innovative and practical solutions” to help local companies overcome the hurdles posed by the down economy. He has advised companies of all sizes in the 10th district of Illinois for more than 20 years.
The first-time lawmaker has a degree in industrial engineering and an MBA from Northwestern University, and is an avid biker.
But Schneider’s experience goes beyond business: He also has deep experience with several nonprofit groups in Illinois, including the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
Rep.-elect Bill Foster (D-Ill.-11)
DATE OF BIRTH: Oct. 7, 1955
BIRTHPLACE: Madison, Wis.
RESIDENCE: Naperville, Ill.
OCCUPATION: Scientist, businessman
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison; Ph.D. in physics from Harvard University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: House of Representatives, Illinois’s 14th district, 2008-2010
FAMILY: Wife, Aesook; two children
Bill Foster’s win returns him to Congress, where he represented Illinois’s 14th district from mid-2008 until early 2011.
He was first sent to Congress in a special election to replace former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who resigned, but Foster was defeated in 2010 by GOP Rep. Randy Hultgren.
The redistricting process redrew the map for Illinois’s House seats. Foster defeated Republican Rep. Judy Biggert in the newly-redrawn 11th district, which contained some of his old territory.
He is a physicist and particle accelerator designer at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.
When he was 19, he and his brother started a lighting company that now produces more than half of the theater lighting equipment in the country. Foster sold his stake in that company in 2007 before running for the House.
Rep.-elect William Enyart (D-Ill.-12)
DATE OF BIRTH: Sept. 22, 1949
BIRTHPLACE: Pensacola, Fla.
RESIDENCE: Belleville, Ill.
OCCUPATION: Major general in National Guard
EDUCATION: B.A., Southern Illinois University; J.D., Southern Illinois University; M.S., U.S. Army War College
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Annette; two children
William Enyart went on to win the open 11th district seat despite beginning his campaign in June and not competing in the primary.
A newcomer to political office, Enyart replaced Brad Harriman as the Democratic Party’s choice for the ticket. Harriman dropped out due to a nerve disorder and Democratic officials in the state picked his replacement. Enyart will fill the seat of retiring Rep. Jerry Costello (D).
Enyart holds both a law degree and master’s in strategic studies. He has not held elected office but has extensive military experience.
He is a career military officer, having served on and off since 1969. He served in the Air Force during Vietnam and the Air Force reserves thereafter. He retired from the National Guard this year with the rank of major general, after joining in 1982.
He headed the Guard in Illinois as adjunct general, commanding 13,000 troops. He served as military adviser to then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D).
Rep.-elect Rodney Davis (R-Ill.-13)
DATE OF BIRTH: Jan. 5, 1970
BIRTHPLACE: Des Moines, Iowa
RESIDENCE: Taylorville, Ill.
OCCUPATION: Congressional aide
EDUCATION: B.S., Milliken University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Shannon; three children
Rodney Davis defeated Democrat David Gill to retain the GOP’s seat in Illinois’s 13th congressional district, which was up for grabs when Rep. Timothy Johnson (R) decided against running for reelection.
Johnson decided to retire after the GOP primary, so party leaders picked the Republican nominee.
They selected Davis, a former projects director for long-serving Rep. John Shimkus (R) of Illinois’s 19th congressional district, over two dozen other interested parties, partly because they believed he would be able to fundraise quickly.
He also had experience as acting executive director of the Illinois Republican Party, where he managed the party’s finances and paid off $300,000 in debt that the party owed.
In addition, Davis secured support from Shimkus, who did not seek reelection.
Rep.-elect Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.-17)
DATE OF BIRTH: Oct. 17, 1961
BIRTHPLACE: Springfield, Ill.
RESIDENCE: East Moline, Ill.
OCCUPATION: Public relations
EDUCATION: B.A., University of Maryland, College Park; M.A., University of Illinois at Springfield
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: East Moline City Council, 2007-2011
FAMILY: Husband, Gerry; three children
Cheri Bustos says a major reason she ran for Congress is her brother Danny’s death from cancer. While he was working and fully insured, his healthcare plan didn’t cover his treatment because he needed an experimental drug. Bustos has said she would use her position in Congress to fight for others who cannot get the medical treatment they need.
As a reporter, Bustos covered crime and city government, and in many cases, crimes being committed by city government.
She later became a communications official for healthcare providers, including IHS and Trinity Regional Health System. She served as president of the board of directors of the Women’s Connection, and is a former volunteer at Big Brothers/Big Sisters and United Way.
Bustos beat freshman GOP Rep. Bobby Schilling, a favorite of the Tea Party. The district became more Democratic-leaning during the redistricting process, boosting Bustos’s chances.
Indiana
Sen.-elect Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.)
DATE OF BIRTH: Sept. 29, 1955
BIRTHPLACE: Massapequa, N.Y.
RESIDENCE: Granger, Ind.
OCCUPATION: Businessman; lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A., University of Notre Dame; J.D., University of Notre Dame Law School
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: House of Representatives, 2007-2012; Mishawaka Marian High School Board, 1997-2001; Indiana State Election Board, 1988-1989
FAMILY: Wife, Jill; two children
Democrats thought this seat would be in play after the Republican Party nominated a Tea Party conservative, Richard Murdock, instead of incumbent Sen. Dick Lugar, who was defeated in the GOP primary.
That gave Democrats the opportunity they needed for Rep. Joe Donnelly to snag the seat for the party.
Donnelly successfully portrayed Mourdock as being too extreme for Indiana. And Lugar decided not to campaign with the GOP candidate, damaging Murdock’s appeal to independent voters.
Donnelly played up his bipartisan work in the House on the Veterans Affairs and Financial Services committees, as well as stressed that he worked with Lugar on a bailout for the auto industry, which Mourdock opposed.
More than $10 million was spent on the Senate race.
Rep.-elect Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.-02)
DATE OF BIRTH: Aug. 17, 1963
BIRTHPLACE: South Bend, Ind.
RESIDENCE: Jimtown, Ind.
OCCUPATION: Self-employed
EDUCATION: B.A., Taylor University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Indiana State Representative, 2005-2010
FAMILY: Husband, Dean
Jackie Walorski’s victory gives her revenge from her narrow 2010 defeat at the hands of Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), who won by a close 48 to 47 percent margin. Donnelly left the seat this cycle to run for the Senate, and Walorski defeated Democrat Brendan Mullen to pick up the seat for the GOP.
Walorski was born and raised in South Bend, Ind., and started work as a television reporter. After marrying, she and her husband moved to Romania, where they started a foundation to bring medical supplies to children.
Upon returning, she was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 2004, and served for three terms. She ultimately became the assistant floor leader for the House Republican Caucus.
Rep.-elect Susan Brooks (R-Ind.-05)
DATE OF BIRTH: 1961
BIRTHPLACE: Ft. Wayne, Ind.
RESIDENCE: Carmel, Ind.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A., Miami University of Ohio; J.D., Indiana University Indianapolis School of Law
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, 2001-2007; Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis, 1998-1999
FAMILY: Husband, David; two children
Republican Susan Brooks will replace long-time Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) in representing the Hoosier state.
During the campaign Brooks touted her experience as an attorney and vice president and general counsel for Ivy Tech Community College, where she worked on improving job training and placement for thousands of Indiana residents. She said she had more experience in job creation than her Democratic opponent, Scott Reske.
President George W. Bush appointed Brooks as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, where she served for six years and rose quickly to a leadership advisory role with two U.S. attorneys general.
In a state known for its love of college hoops, Brooks fits right in with her experience as co-chairwoman of the NCAA 2011 Women’s Final Four.
Rep.-elect Luke Messer (R-Ind.-06)
DATE OF BIRTH: Feb. 27, 1969
BIRTHPLACE: Evansville, Ind.
RESIDENCE: Shelbyville, Ind.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A., Wabash College; J.D., Vanderbilt University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Indiana House of Representatives, 2003-2006
FAMILY: Wife, Jennifer; three children
Luke Messer has deep connections with the Republican Party in Indiana. He served as the executive director and spokesman of the Indiana Republican Party from 2001-2005, and in that role helped Gov. Mitch Daniels win election in 2004, as well as other state Republicans in 2002 and 2004.
He also served in the state Legislature, and within three years won a spot on the House Ways and Means Committee and the House leadership team. In that role, he pursued many of the same objectives that House Republicans are looking to pursue in Congress, including a balanced budget.
Along the way, he won top ratings from Indiana Right to Life and the National Rifle Associatio n. Messer comes to Washington media-ready — he spoke regularly on TV and the radio in Indiana — and with some familiarity with how the federal government operates. He served as counsel to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and as legal counsel and press secretary for three former members.
Kentucky
Rep.-elect Thomas Massie (R-Ky.-04)
DATE OF BIRTH: Jan. 13, 1971
BIRTHPLACE: Huntington, W.Va.
RESIDENCE: Garrison, Ky.
OCCUPATION: Entrepreneur, farmer
EDUCATION: B.S., electrical engineering; M.S., mechanical engineering, both from MIT
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: County judge-executive
FAMILY: Wife, Rhonda; four children
Thomas Massie has two degrees in engineering — and both his B.S. and master’s come from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He founded a technology company that employed 70 people and held a few dozen patents before moving to Kentucky with his wife, Rhonda, to raise their children. That’s where he got the taste for politics — engaging in county-level tax fights.
In 2010, he won his race to become Lewis County judge-executive. In that position, he fought to reduce wasteful spending, an effort that will put him in good standing with the House Republican majority he’s joining.
Rep.-elect Andy Barr (R-Ky.-06)
DATE OF BIRTH: July 24, 1973
BIRTHPLACE: Lexington, Ky.
RESIDENCE: Lexington, Ky.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A., the University of Virginia; J.D., University of Kentucky
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Eleanor; one child
Andy Barr defeated Democratic Rep. Ben Chandler on his second attempt, having lost by approximately 600 votes in 2010.
Barr called the 2012 race “a rematch of the third-closest congressional race in America.”
His election win brings him back to Washington for the first time in a decade and a half. In 1996, he served as a legislative assistant to Rep. Jim Talent (R-Mo.). While in Washington, he served as a staffer for Talent on the Health Care Reform Task force.
Barr worked as an lawyer in Lexington, Ky., and taught constitutional law and administrative law at Morehead State University. He also served as deputy general counsel to former Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher.
Sen.-elect Angus King (I-Maine)
DATE OF BIRTH: March 31, 1944
BIRTHPLACE: Alexandria, Va.
RESIDENCE: Brunswick, Maine
OCCUPATION: Lawyer; Distinguished Lecturer at Bowdoin College
EDUCATION: B.A., Dartmouth College; J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Governor of Maine, 1995-2003
FAMILY: Wife, Mary Herman; five children
The popular former governor of Maine, Angus King, shook up the Senate race with his independent bid.
His was seen as the immediate front-runner, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chose not to help their own nominee, fueling speculation that King would ultimately work with Democrats in the Senate.
King fills the seat of centrist Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) who decided to retire because of the hyperpartisan atmosphere in Washington, D.C.
As an independent, King supported George W. Bush in 2000 but supported President Obama in 2008 and 2012.
Before being elected governor, King worked in alternative energy production. As governor, he led the greatest period of land conservation in Maine history, protecting more than 1.6 million acres from development and ensuring public access.
The day after he left office as governor, King, his wife and their two children at the time traveled America in a motor home. Over six months, the family logged 15,000 miles and visited 34 states before returning to Maine.
MARYLAND
Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.-06)
DATE OF BIRTH: April 16, 1963
BIRTHPLACE: Wood-Ridge, N.J.
RESIDENCE: Potomac, Md.
OCCUPATION: Businessman
EDUCATION: B.S., biology, Columbia University; J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, April; four children
John Delaney’s business background is related to boosting capital flows to companies, something both parties have said needs to be improved in order for the economy to grow.
He founded CapitalSource in 2000, which he said loaned money to thousands of small to midsize companies. He also started BancAlliance, a group of community banks aimed at pooling the resources of local banks. Both companies are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Delaney was a major fundraiser for Hillary Clinton during her 2008 presidential run, and former President Clinton campaigned for him during the election.
He defeated longtime GOP lawmaker Roscoe Bartlett.
Delaney serves on the board of Georgetown University and the National Symphony Orchestra. He and his wife are also supporters of Catholic Charities, and in 2007, he was named one of three outstanding individual philanthropists by that organization.
Massachusetts
Sen.-elect Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)
DATE OF BIRTH: June 22, 1949
BIRTHPLACE: Oklahoma City
RESIDENCE: Cambridge, Mass.
OCCUPATION: Consumer advocate, Harvard Law School professor
EDUCATION: B.S., University of Houston; J.D., Rutgers Law School
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Assistant to the president and special adviser to the secretary of the Treasury on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2010- 2011
FAMILY: Husband, Bruce Mann; two children
Democrats fought hard to take back the seat that once belonged to the late Edward Kennedy in one of the toughest Senate contests of 2012. And they won with Elizabeth Warren’s victory over freshman Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.).
Before the Senate race, the Obama administration considered appointing Warren as head of the consumer financial protection agency she designed, but Republicans in the Senate indicated they would block her nomination. She now gets to work side-by-side with some of those lawmakers who called her too liberal to be trusted to lead the agency tasked with overseeing some of the most popular banking products.
Rep.-elect Joseph Kennedy (D-Mass.-04)
DATE OF BIRTH: Oct. 4, 1980
BIRTHPLACE: Brighton, Mass.
RESIDENCE: Brookline, Mass.
OCCUPATION: Left job as assistant district attorney in January to pursue race full-time.
EDUCATION: B.S. Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 2003 J.D., Harvard Law, 2009
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Fiancé, Lauren Birchfield
Joe Kennedy’s victory brings the name “Kennedy” back to Congress, which was missing in the 112th Congress for the first time in decades. The member of the legendary family replaces a equally-famous member of Congress: Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who retired.
Aside from just the name, Joseph Kennedy brings as much of the Kennedy mystique back to Congress that he can — Harvard, legal background and youth. He was born in 1980 and is the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy and the son of former Rep. Joseph Kennedy II (D-Mass.).
Kennedy was an assistant district attorney for Middlesex County, Mass., and served in three other counties. He also served in the Peace Corps from 2004-2006 and speaks Spanish fluently. Kennedy has a wedding planned in December, to Lauren Birchfield.
Michigan
Rep.-elect Dan Kildee (D-Mich.-05)
DATE OF BIRTH: Aug. 11, 1958
BIRTHPLACE: Flint, Mich.
RESIDENCE: Flint Township, Mich.
OCCUPATION: CEO and president of the Center for Community Progress
EDUCATION: University of Michigan-Flint
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Treasurer, Genesee County, 1998-2009; Member, Flint Board of Education, 1977-1985
FAMILY: Wife, Jennifer; three children
Dan Kildee got his start in politics in 1977, at the age of 18, when he was elected to the local school board.
But his political roots go back even deeper: His uncle is retiring Rep. Dale Kildee, who the younger Kildee ran to succeed in the 5th district.
He was heavily favored to win the Dem-leaning district and was likely helped by his famous last name and his ties to his uncle: Dan Kildee ran Dale Kildee’s reelection campaign for the past several election cycles.
This was his first run for political office, although he considered a bid for governor last year.
Rep.-elect Kerry Bentivolio (R-Mich.-11)
DATE OF BIRTH: Oct. 6, 1951
BIRTHPLACE: Detroit
RESIDENCE: Milford, Mich.
OCCUPATION: Farmer
EDUCATION: B.A. from St. Mary’s College; master’s of education from Marygrove College
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Karen; two adult children; three grandchildren
Kerry Bentivolio has one of the more unique backgrounds for a member of Congress: He and his wife, Karen, raise reindeer that are trained to pull Santa’s sleigh in parades and other holiday events.
They also keep chickens and honeybees, and maintain a vineyard on a small farm in Milford, Mich.
Bentivolio replaces former GOP Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, who resigned from the seat in July.
He served in the Michigan Army National Guard for 20 years, and in 2007, at age 56, served with an artillery unit in Iraq in an administrative capacity.
Bentivolio has political experience that dates back to when Ronald Reagan was running for president in 1980 — he served as a volunteer in the state for Reagan and lists Reagan as his “favorite leader of the free world.”
Minnesota
Rep.-elect Rick Nolan (D-Minn.-08)
DATE OF BIRTH: Dec. 17, 1943
BIRTHPLACE: Brainerd, Minn.
RESIDENCE: Crosby, Minn.
OCCUPATION: Businessman
EDUCATION: B.A., University of Minnesota
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: House of Representatives, Minnesota’s 6th District, 1974-1980
FAMILY: Wife, Mary
Rick Nolan returns to Congress after having served more than 30 years ago. The three-term member of Congress represented Minnesota from 1974-1980.
This year he beat freshman Republican Chip Cravaack in the 8th congressional district. Cravaack knocked off 18-term Democrat Jim Oberstar in 2010, and this was a seat the party wanted to win back.
Back in the late 1970s, Nolan served on the House Agriculture Committee and chaired the subcommittee on Family Farms and Rural Development Agriculture.
Since leaving Congress, Rick spent 31 years in business as an exporter of U.S. goods and services. That work involved setting up distributorships and other entities, and providing business training and financing for U.S. companies.
He’s also a former owner and CEO of Emily Forest Products, a sawmill and pallet manufacturer in Minnesota.
Missouri
Rep.-elect Ann Wagner (R-Mo.-02)
DATE OF BIRTH: Sept. 13, 1962
BIRTHPLACE: St. Louis, Mo.
RESIDENCE: Ballwin, Mo.
OCCUPATION: Candidate
EDUCATION: B.S./B.A. in business, University of Missouri
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg
FAMILY: Husband, Ray; two children
Ann Wagner is a first-time congresswoman who is no stranger to Washington, having already logged time as an ambassador under the last Bush administration.
After nearly a decade as a local committeewoman, she because the chairwoman of the Missouri Republican Party and then co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee during the first term of President George W. Bush. In 2005, she became the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg.
In 2010, she chaired Sen. Roy Blunt’s successful Senate campaign.
Before her political experience, Wagner held management positions at both Hallmark Cards and Ralston Purina.
Montana
Rep. Steve Daines (R-Mont.-At large)
DATE OF BIRTH: Aug. 20, 1962
BIRTHPLACE: California
RESIDENCE: Bozeman, Mont.
OCCUPATION: General manager/VP, RightNow Technologies Asia-Pacific
EDUCATION: B.S., Montana State University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Cindy; four children
Steve Daines already has experience within his home state of Montana fighting the 2010 healthcare law, a goal shared by his new Republican colleagues in the House.
He acted as a spokesman for several groups within the state aimed at stopping the law from passing. Prior to that, he was Montana’s Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, and in 2007, he was Montana chairman of then-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s (R) presidential campaign.
The incoming lawmaker will keep Montana’s at-large seat in GOP hands. He’s replacing Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg, who ran for Senate.
Daines has worked for Procter & Gamble, his family’s construction company and a startup called RightNow Technologies.
He and his wife, Cindy, have four children, David, Annie, Michael and Caroline.
Nebraska
Sen.-elect Deb Fischer (R-Neb.)
DATE OF BIRTH: March 1, 1951
BIRTHPLACE: Lincoln, Neb.
RESIDENCE: Valentine, Neb.
OCCUPATION: Rancher
EDUCATION: B.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: State Senator, 2004-2012; Valentine Rural High School Board of Education
FAMILY: Husband, Bruce; three children
Deb Fischer took a Senate seat away from Democrats with her win over former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.). The two were vying to replace retiring Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.).
Her opponent was painted as a carpetbagger, having moved back to the state from New York in order to run for office again.
Fischer, who’d never run for statewide office before, was an unapologetic conservative during the campaign, saying she’d reform the tax code and balance the budget if elected. The Tea Party favorite won a tough GOP primary and was endorsed early on by Sarah Palin.
In the State Legislature, she worked to improve public education, transportation and water conservation.
Fischer’s family ranch has been recognized for conservation and environmental stewardship. Kerrey actually used Fischer’s ranching experience against her with an ad that got national attention for tightening the race. The “Good Neighbor” ad attacked Fischer for suing her elderly neighbors over a land dispute, saying because she had used the land for grazing over several years that it belonged to her.
Nevada
Sen.-elect Dean Heller (R-Nev.)
DATE OF BIRTH: May 10, 1960
BIRTHPLACE: Castro Valley, Calif.
RESIDENCE: Carson City, Nev.
OCCUPATION: Stockbroker
EDUCATION: B.A., University of Southern California
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Senate, 2011-2012; House of Representatives, 2007-2011; secretary of state of Nevada, 1994-2006; state representative, 1990-1994
FAMILY: Wife, Lynne; four children; one grandchild
As an avid stock car driver, Dean Heller is used to winning races. He beat Shelley Berkley in one of the closest Senate contests of 2012.
Heller was helped by having fellow Mormon Mitt Romney at the top of the ballot in the state with a high Mormon population.
Heller was appointed to the Senate seat by Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval in 2011, after former Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) resigned amid an ethics investigation into his affair with the wife of a staffer.
With one year in the Senate under his belt, Heller pointed to his bipartisan voting record and portrayed Berkley, a Democratic House lawmaker, as a partisan who took orders from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Heller also used a House ethics investigation into Berkley’s involvement in a kidney transplant program that had ties to her husband.
Rep.-elect Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01)
DATE OF BIRTH: May 23, 1950
BIRTHPLACE: Thomasville, Ga.
RESIDENCE: Las Vegas
OCCUPATION: Emeritus professor of political science, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, College of William and Mary; master’s degree, University of George; doctorate degree, Florida State University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: House of Representatives, Nevada’s 3rd congressional district, 2008-2010; Nevada Senate,1988-2008.
FAMILY: Husband, Thomas;children
Dina Titus returns to Congress after her 2010 defeat at the hands of Republican Rep. Joe Heck.
She was first elected in 2008 and served for one term on the House Transportation and Education Committees. Titus also served as a whip for the Western states under the Democratic-led 111th Congress.
In addition to her single term in Congress, Titus was a member of the Nevada Legislature for 20 years and was the Democratic Minority Leader for 15 of those years.
Titus won Rep. Shelley Berkley’s (D-Nev.) open House seat after Berkley made a bid for the Senate.
Rep.-elect Steven Horsford (D-Nev.-04)
DATE OF BIRTH: April 29, 1973
BIRTHPLACE: Las Vegas
RESIDENCE: Carson City, Nev.
OCCUPATION: State Senate majority leader
EDUCATION: Attended University of Nevada-Reno
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Nevada State Senate
FAMILY: Wife, Sonya; children Benjamin, Bryson and Ella
Steven Horsford was elected to the Nevada State Senate in 2004, and in a few years he became the state’s first black majority leader.
He won that position after helping to lead efforts to win Democratic control of the body in 2008, which resulted in the first Democratic state Senate in 18 years. He also co-chaired President Obama’s 2008 election in Nevada.
While in the Senate, he wrote and passed the Clean Energy Jobs Initiative and proposed tax incentives for companies that create jobs in the state. In 2011, he helped pass an education reform bill, and earlier this year, he led the fight against a proposal to cut teachers.
He ran for the newly created 4th congressional district, defeating Republican Danny Tarkanian. He will be the first African-American to represent the state in Congress.
New Hampshire
Rep.-elect Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.-01)
DATE OF BIRTH: Dec. 2, 1952
BIRTHPLACE: New York
RESIDENCE: Rochester, N.H.
OCCUPATION: Community college teacher and social worker
EDUCATION: B.A. and M.P.A., University of New Hampshire
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: U.S. representative, 2007-2011
FAMILY: Husband, Gene
Carol Shea-Porter’s win brings her back to Congress, where she formerly served as a representative for New Hampshire’s 1st district until her defeat in the 2010 election by Rep. Frank Guinta (R), whom she defeated this year.
Her reelection is a vindication of sorts, as she was one of the victims of the town-hall protests against the administration’s healthcare reform law during the 2010 campaign. Local press reports say one New Hampshire man was yelling so loudly during a meeting she was attending that he had to be removed by security officers.
During her previous two terms, Shea-Porter served on the House committees on Armed Services, Education and Labor, and Natural Resources.
Rep.-elect Ann McLane Kuster (D-N.H.-02)
DATE OF BIRTH: Sept. 5, 1956
BIRTHPLACE: Concord, N.H.
RESIDENCE: Hopkinton, N.H.
OCCUPATION: Worked as an adoption attorney and public policy advocate for 25 years at Rath, Young, Pignatelli. In 2010 she founded Newfound Strategies, a consulting firm for nonprofits.
EDUCATION: Dartmouth College, 1978; Georgetown Law, 1984
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Husband, Brad; two children
Ann McLane Kuster’s victory comes after her narrow defeat in 2010 to Rep. Charlie Bass (R). In 2010, she lost to Bass by just 3,551 votes, or about 1 percentage point, which made it one of the closest House races that year.
She arrives in Washington with a keen appreciation for health-related issues. With her mother, she is the co-author of a book called The Last Dance: Facing Alzheimer’s With Love and Laughter, and she toured the state with her father to speak about aging and family care after her mother passed away.
She is also an adoption attorney and has helped hundreds of New Hampshire families adopt children over the last 25 years. Additionally, she serves on several boards of community organizations, including the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and Child and Family Services of New Hampshire.
New Jersey
Rep.-elect Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.-10)
DATE OF BIRTH: Dec. 17, 1958
BIRTHPLACE: Newark, N.J.
RESIDENCE: Newark, N.J.
OCCUPATION: Transportation manager
EDUCATION: Attended Kean College
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Newark City Council president; Essex County freeholder at-large
FAMILY: Wife, Bea; three children
The 10th Congressional seat in New Jersey passed from father to son in the 2012 election cycle.
Donald Payne Jr. won the race to replace his father, who represented the district for 23 years before dying of colon cancer in March.
The Payne name is a legacy in New Jersey. The elder Payne was the first black congressman to represent the state, and Payne Jr.’s uncle is a former state assemblyman.
Payne is already familiar with elected office in the district, which represents most of Newark. He served as an at-large member of the Essex County legislature and was elected president of the Newark city council.
He touts his work on education, specifically two programs he helped create: one that fosters leadership in children (Embracing Arms) and another that integrates athletics and education (Above the Rim).
As a father of triplets, Payne highlights his support for prenatal care and his work with Planned Parenthood.
New Mexico
Sen.-elect Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)
DATE OF BIRTH: Oct. 17, 1971
BIRTHPLACE: Fallon, Nev.
RESIDENCE: Albuquerque, N.M.
OCCUPATION: Congressman
EDUCATION: B.S., University of Missouri
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Congressman (2008-present), president of Albuquerque City Council
FAMILY: Wife, Julie; two children
Martin Heinrich won the open Senate seat in New Mexico after representing the most populous metro area in the state in the House of Representatives.
Heinrich assumed office in the House in 2008 and was elected president of the freshman class soon after. That year, Heinrich took the place of former Rep. Heather Wilson (R) when she stepped down to make her first run for the Senate.
Heinrich met up again with Wilson this cycle in the race to replace outgoing Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.).
Replacing Bingaman, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, will suit Heinrich, who served on the analogous committee in the House, as well as the Armed Services Committee.
At 43 years old, he will be one of the youngest senators. He will also be the only sitting senator with an engineering degree.
Rep.-elect Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.-01)
DATE OF BIRTH: Oct. 24, 1959
BIRTHPLACE: Los Alamos, N.M.
RESIDENCE: Albuquerque, N.M.
OCCUPATION: Owner and operator, Sheridan Equities
EDUCATION: B.A., J.D., University of New Mexico
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Bernalillo County Commissioner
FAMILY: Widow; two children
Michelle Lujan Grisham will be only the second Democrat to hold the 1st district of New Mexico.
Grisham is a former County Commissioner and head of the New Mexico Health Department. Grisham also served as the secretary of Aging, where she boasts of going undercover to reveal patient abuse in nursing facilities.
With her background, Grisham put healthcare at the forefront of her primary race. She is president and co-founder of a consulting group that oversees New Mexico’s insurance pools.
The 1st district, created in 1969, remained in Republican hands until outgoing Democratic Rep. Martin Heinrich turned it in 2008. He gave up the seat this year to run for Senate.
Grisham comes from a legacy of politicos. Her grandfather was the first Hispanic chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court.
New York
Rep.-elect Grace Meng (D-N.Y.-06)
DATE OF BIRTH: Oct. 1, 1975
BIRTHPLACE: New York City
RESIDENCE: Flushing, N.Y.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer and New York state legislator
EDUCATION: University of Michigan-College of Literature, Science and the Arts; Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: New York Assembly, 2009-present
FAMILY: Husband, Wayne; two children
Grace Meng ran and won in Queens, N.Y., on a platform that largely mirrors that of House Democratic leaders. Her website says one of her top goals is to pass the “Buffett rule” so “millionaires can’t get away with lower tax rates than teachers, laborers or secretaries.”
She is a New York assemblywoman, a position she has used to ensure that government is a “force for accomplishing good in our lives.” She has also spoken out on the need to blunt “Republican attacks on women’s access to healthcare and our social safety net.”
The redistricting process reshaped New York’s map, but the majority of this district is made up of the territory of Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.), who retired.
Meng was born in New York and married Dr. Wayne Kye, who was born in South Korea.
Rep.-elect Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.-08)
DATE OF BIRTH: Aug. 4, 1970
BIRTHPLACE: Brooklyn, N.Y.
RESIDENCE: Brooklyn, N.Y.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A., State University of New York at Binghamton; M.P.P., Georgetown University; J.D., New York University School of Law, magna cum laude,
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: New York State Assembly
FAMILY: Wife, Kennisandra; two children
Hakeem Jeffries is a Brooklyn native who has made a name for himself as a state assemblyman who has pushed legislation that improves tenants’ access to affordable apartments, protects New Yorkers during encounters with police and eases the transition of prisoners back into civilian life.
In 2010, New York passed one of his bills into law that required police to stop keeping records on people they stop and question, but who are not charged.
But Jeffries might also find company among Republicans, as he supports educational reforms and charter schools. He sponsored a bill in 2010 to lift the cap on charter schools in New York.
Prior to becoming an assemblyman, Jeffries clerked for a New York judge, practiced law at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and was a counsel to Viacom.
He replaces retiring Democratic Rep. Edolphus Towns after winning a tough Democratic primary against controversial candidate Charles Barron, who has made anti-Semitic statements and talked about his admiration for former Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi.
Rep.-elect Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.-18)
DATE OF BIRTH: 1966
BIRTHPLACE: N/A
RESIDENCE: Cold Spring, N.Y.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A., J.D., University of Virginia
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: White House staffer under President Clinton
FAMILY: Domestic partner Randy, three children
Sean Patrick Maloney defeated one-term Republican Nan Hayworth, and in doing so returns to Washington, where he served as a staffer to President Clinton a decade ago.
He was a White House staffer for three years under Clinton, and then, from 2007 to 2009, served as first deputy secretary for New York Govs. Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson. Clinton campaigned for him.
He also worked in Peru as a volunteer social worker from 1988 to 1989.
Maloney, an openly gay attorney, has promised to fight House Republican plans to replace Medicare with a voucher system for people under 55 years of age.
He and his partner of more than 20 years, Randy Florke, have three children together: Jesus, Daley and Essie.
Rep.-elect Dan Maffei (D-N.Y.-24)
DATE OF BIRTH: July 4, 1968
BIRTHPLACE: Syracuse, N.Y.
RESIDENCE: DeWitt, N.Y.
OCCUPATION: Teacher at State University of New York
EDUCATION: Master’s in public policy from Harvard
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: House of Representatives, 2009-2011
FAMILY: Wife, Abby
Dan Maffei’s victory brings him back to Washington; he was defeated in 2010 by Ann Marie Buerkle (R) by fewer than 600 votes.
This year he defeated her to return to Congress.
Aside from his prior one term in the House from 2009 to 2011, Maffei was a staffer for Sens. Bill Bradley and Daniel Patrick Moynihan. He also served on the House Ways and Means Committee for six years.
Before being elected to Congress in 2008, he was a senior vice president of Pinnacle Capital Management in Syracuse.
Since leaving office in 2011, he has taught in the State University of New York’s School of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.-27)
DATE OF BIRTH: May 20, 1950
BIRTHPLACE: Schenectady, N.Y.
RESIDENCE: Clarence, N.Y.
OCCUPATION: Business owner
EDUCATION: B.S., North Carolina State University; M.B.A., University of Alabama, Birmingham
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Erie County executive, 2007-present
FAMILY: Wife, Mary; three children
Chris Collins ousted Democratic favorite Rep. Kathy Hochul in a district that turned more conservative since redistricting.
Collins is a small-businessman who owns six companies in and around the district. He comes to the position with five years’ experience as the executive of Erie County, N.Y., and 36 years in the private sector.
He credits his business success to an efficiency philosophy called Lean Six Sigma, which was touted heavily by Newt Gingrich during the GOP presidential primary.
In the most conservative district in New York, Hochul won a special election in 2011 tying her Republican opponent to Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) budget proposal. This cycle, Collins did not endorse the plan and largely avoided questions about it.
He ran on an establishment GOP platform — smaller government, personal accountability and fiscal discipline.
North Carolina
Rep.-elect Richard Hudson (R-N.C.-8)
DATE OF BIRTH: Nov. 4, 1971
BIRTHPLACE: Franklin, Va.
RESIDENCE: Concord, N.C.
OCCUPATION: Small-business owner, congressional aide
EDUCATION: B.A., University of North Carolina, Charlotte
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Renee
The GOP successfully flipped North Carolina’s 8th district away from Democrats with Richard Hudson’s victory over incumbent Democrat Larry Kissell.
Kissell has long been a GOP target, and this cycle was seen as tough for him as his district was made more Republican in the redistricting process.
Hudson has been involved in Republican politics ever since he attended UNC-Charlotte, where he served as president of the local chapter of the College Republicans as well as president of the student body. His service to the GOP includes stints as the communications director of the North Carolina Republican Party, as the chief of staff for three separate U.S. representatives and as campaign manager of Pat McCrory’s 2008 bid for the North Carolina governorship.
This was the first time that Hudson had sought office himself, however, and he emerged from a five-way primary field with 64 percent of the vote.
Rep.-elect Robert Pittenger (R-N.C.-09)
DATE OF BIRTH: Aug. 15, 1948
BIRTHPLACE: Dallas, Texas
RESIDENCE: Charlotte, N.C.
OCCUPATION: Real estate investor
EDUCATION: B.A., University of Texas
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: State Senator
FAMILY: Wife, Suzanne; four children
Republicans held onto retiring Rep. Sue Myrick’s seat thanks to Robert Pittenger’s win over Democrat Jennifer Roberts and Libertarian Curtis Campbell.
The victory means that the Republicans will have held on to the seat for twenty years by the 2014 midterms.
Pittenger was born and raised in Texas before graduating from UT and working for Campus Crusade for Christ. He moved with his family to Charlotte and began his real estate investment company.
This was not Pittenger’s first political go-around; he is a three-term state Senator for North Carolina’s 39th district. He also ran for Lt. Gov. in 2007, but did not win.
Rep.-elect Mark Meadows (R-N.C.-11)
DATE OF BIRTH: July 28, 1959
BIRTHPLACE: Bradenton, Fla.
RESIDENCE: Cashiers, N.C.
OCCUPATION: Small businessman
EDUCATION: B.A., University of South Florida
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: N/A
FAMILY: Wife, Debbie; two children
Republicans are set to succeed retiring Rep. Heath Shuler (D) in North Carolina’s 11th congressional district with Mark Meadows’ victory over Democrat Hayden Rogers.
This election was the first time that Meadows has run for office; he has been a small businessman for twenty seven years, first as a restaurateur, then a developer.
Meadows attracted national attention in June 2012 when he remarked during a Tea Party forum that he hoped President Obama’s birth certificate would be investigated.
“We will send him back home to Kenya or wherever it is,” Meadows said.
Meadows later retreated from his comments.
Rep.-elect George Holding (R-N.C.-13)
DATE OF BIRTH: April 17, 1968
BIRTHPLACE: Raleigh, N.C.
RESIDENCE: Raleigh, N.C.
OCCUPATION: Federal prosecutor
EDUCATION: B.A., J.D., Wake Forest
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Lucy; four children
The Republicans picked up a seat in North Carolina’s 13th congressional district with Rep.-elect George Holding’s win over Democrat Charles Malone.
The seat has belonged to Democrats since 2002, when now-retiring Rep. Brad Miller won it.
A successful United States attorney, Holding has an impressive record in the courtroom. He’s convicted a former Agriculture Commissioner, a former member of Congress and many other government officials for corruption and unethical acts. In addition, he’s indicted seven defendants for conspiring to promote terrorist attacks both in the United States and abroad (two have pleaded guilty and the remainder are awaiting trial).
Prior to becoming a U.S. attorney, he practiced law and served on the staff of the late Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.). He served as the top assistant U.S. attorney from 2002 to 2006 before being appointed U.S. attorney.
North Dakota
Rep.-elect Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.-at large)
DATE OF BIRTH: Jan. 21, 1961
BIRTHPLACE: Kindred, N.D.
RESIDENCE: Bismarck, N.D.
OCCUPATION: Republican activist
EDUCATION: B.A., Concordia College; M.A., University of Mary
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: North Dakota director of Economic Development & Finance; North Dakota Tourism director; North Dakota Republican Party state chairman
FAMILY: Wife: Kris; five children
Kevin Cramer ended his House losing streak by winning out over Democrat Pam Gulleson and Libertarian Eric Olson for North Dakota’s only seat in the House of Representatives. The victory means that the GOP will retain North Dakota’s at-large district.
Cramer’s path to Washington has not been easy. He was defeated twice before in attempts to win this seat, first in 1996 and again two years later. In 2003, Cramer was appointed a North Dakota public service commissioner; he has twice won reelection to the post, which oversees many aspects of North Dakota’s natural resources and services.
He also has an extensive background in politics; Cramer has served as state chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party and was the youngest voting member of the Republican National Committee at age 30.
Ohio
Rep.-elect Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio-02)
BIRTHPLACE: Cincinnati
RESIDENCE: Cincinnati
OCCUPATION: Podiatrist, combat surgeon
EDUCATION: B.S., University of Cincinnati; M.D., Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Monica
The Republicans held onto Ohio’s 2nd congressional district thanks to Brad Wenstrup’s victory over Democrat William Smith. Wenstrup unseated Rep. Jean Schmidt in a GOP primary fight earlier in the year.
Wenstrup is a veteran, having served as an officer in the Medical Service Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve since 1998. In 2005 he completed a tour of duty in Iraq, serving as a combat surgeon with the 344th Combat Support Hospital, earning the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge. Though he’ll be a U.S. representative, Wenstrup is continuing his service in the U.S. Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel.
He also has a private practice and has been treating patients in Southwest Ohio for nearly a quarter of a century.
Rep.-elect Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio-03)
DATE OF BIRTH: March 12, 1950
BIRTHPLACE: Dayton, Ohio
RESIDENCE: Columbus, Ohio
OCCUPATION: Professor
EDUCATION: B.A., Central State University; M.A., Wright State University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Ohio House of Representatives, 2000-2008
FAMILY: Husband, Otto; two stepchildren
Democrat Joyce Beatty will represent a newly created district around Columbus, Ohio, after easily defeating Republican Chris Long.
The district that Beatty won used to be part of the one held by Rep. Steven Stivers (R-Ohio). The state legislature made his district more Republican when lines were redrawn in 2010.
Beatty has championed healthcare and education issues in Ohio. In the state legislature, she worked on legislation that fought foreclosures, championed STEM and financial literacy education as a part of the Ohio Core Curriculum and helped women without insurance receive cancer screenings.
During the campaign, she touted her role in getting Ohio $400 million in Race to the Top funds from the Department of Education. More recently, Beatty worked at Ohio State University as vice president of outreach and engagement.
Rep.-elect David Joyce (R-Ohio-14)
DATE OF BIRTH: March 17, 1957
BIRTHPLACE: Cleveland
RESIDENCE: Novelty, Ohio
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A., University of Dayton; J.D., University of Dayton
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Kelly; three children
Republicans retained their seat in Ohio’s 14th congressional district after nine-term Rep. Steven LaTourette’s surprising decision to retire.
David Joyce, a six-term prosecutor from conservative Geauga County, east of Cleveland, bested a crowded field that included Democrat Dale Blanchard, Libertarian David Macko, and Green candidate Elaine Mastromatteo.
He has been a longtime ally of LaTourette and secured his endorsement. No leading Democrat chose to challenge Joyce, so his main opponent was Blanchard, who was making his 10th attempt for a seat in the U.S. House.
When it comes to replacing LaTourette, a relatively centrist Republican who said he was retiring due to frustration with Washington gridlock, Joyce has indicated that he will seek a similar path, noting that there would “have to be some shared sacrifice” to “make this system work.”
Oklahoma
Rep.-elect Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.-01)
DATE OF BIRTH: June 15, 1975
BIRTHPLACE: Ann Arbor, Mich.
RESIDENCE: Tulsa, Okla.
OCCUPATION: Pilot in U.S. Navy Reserve
EDUCATION: B.A., Rice University; M.B.A., Cornell University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Michelle; three children
The Republicans held onto Oklahoma’s 1st congressional district with Jim Bridenstine’s victory over Democrat John Olson.
Bridenstine upset Rep. John Sullivan (R) in the GOP primary, making Sullivan the first Oklahoma congressman unseated in a primary fight since 1994. Bridenstine successfully leveraged Tea Party support in his victory and has promised to serve no more than three terms.
A triple-major in economics, psychology and business at Rice University, and a holder of an M.B.A from Cornell University, Bridenstine has served as a pilot in the U.S. Navy for the past nine years, flying the Grumman E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft in combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. He has also served as the executive director of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum and launched a failed attempt to bring one of the three retiring space shuttles to the museum.
Rep.-elect Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.-02)
DATE OF BIRTH: July 26, 1977
BIRTHPLACE: Tulsa, Okla.
RESIDENCE: Westville, Okla.
OCCUPATION: Businessman
EDUCATION: Attended Oklahoma State University, Okmulgee
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Christie; three children
Markwayne Mullin, owner of a plumbing business, will replace the only Democrat in the Oklahoma delegation.
Mullin won the open race to replace Rep. Dan Boren (D-Okla.), a Blue Dog Democrat who chose to retire. The district had remained in Democratic hands for seven years despite voting for Republican presidents since before 2000.
Describing himself as a rancher and business owner, Mullin holds no experience in elected office. He graduated from Stilwell High School in Oklahoma and briefly attended college on a wrestling scholarship. After an injury, Mullin left school to head his family’s plumbing business.
During the campaign, he was one of a few candidates tapped by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to deliver the GOP weekly address a month before the election. Critics hit Mullin for accepting plumbing contracts that were part of President Obama’s stimulus package. Mullin opposes the law.
Oregon
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01)
DATE OF BIRTH: Oct. 14, 1954
BIRTHPLACE: Detroit
RESIDENCE: Portland, Ore.
OCCUPATION: Politician, lawyer
EDUCATION: A.A., Lane Community College; B.A., University of Oregon; J.D., University of Oregon
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Oregon Senate, 2008-2011; Oregon House of Representatives, 2007-2008
FAMILY: Husband, Michael Simon; two children
Suzanne Bonamici has quickly moved up the ranks in Oregon politics, entering the state legislature just five years before being nominated to replace former Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.) after he resigned due to a scandal over allegations of sexually harassing a campaign donor’s daughter.
She won the special election for Wu’s seat in January; this will mark her first full term in Congress.
Bonamici started her career at the Federal Trade Commission working on consumer lending protections such as truth in lending, equal credit opportunity, fair credit reporting and mortgage fraud.
When serving in both houses of the Oregon legislature, Bonamici continued her work on lending practices, especially for small businesses.
On her first day in the House, Bonamici signed on as a co-sponsor of the Small Business Lending Enhancement Act, designed to increase the cap on what credit unions can lend to small businesses.
Pennsylvania
Rep.-elect Scott Perry (R-Pa.-4)
DATE OF BIRTH: May 27, 1962
BIRTHPLACE: San Diego
RESIDENCE: Dillsburg, Pa.
OCCUPATION: Small-business owner
EDUCATION: B.S., Pennsylvania State University; M.S.S., U.S. Army War College
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: State representative
FAMILY: Wife, Christy; two daughters
Republicans held onto retiring Rep. Todd Platts’s seat in Pennsylvania’s 4th district with Scott Perry’s victory over Democrat Harry Perkinson and Libertarian Mike Koffenberger.
Perry is an experienced hand in Pennsylvania politics. First elected to represent the 92nd district in the Pennsylvania House in 2006, Perry twice won reelection unopposed. He emerged to claim the U.S. House seat after defeating six other candidates in the GOP primary, with more than 50 percent of the vote.
He had previously served as the president of multiple Republican organizations, including the Pennsylvania Young Republicans and the Republican Club of York.
Rep.-elect Keith Rothfus (R-Pa.-12)
DATE OF BIRTH: April 25, 1962
BIRTHPLACE: Endicott, N.Y.
RESIDENCE: Sewickley, Pa.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.S., State University of New York-Buffalo; J.D., University of Notre Dame
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Elsie; six children
The GOP picked up a seat in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District thanks to Keith Rothfus’s victory over Rep. Mark Critz (D). Critz also had a tough primary, as the redistricting process put him in the same district with fellow Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire, whom he defeated.
Rothfus has spent most of his professional life in the private sector as an attorney, though he did work for the Department of Homeland Security from 2005 through 2007. During his tenure there, he established the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.
Rothfus opposes the Affordable Care Act in part because of his experience as a cancer survivor. Less than two years after his initial diagnosis, he ran his first marathon, crediting the skill and innovation of the U.S. healthcare system.
Rep.-elect Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.-17)
DATE OF BIRTH: May 1, 1961
BIRTHPLACE: Erie, Pa.
RESIDENCE: Moosic, Pa.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A, Hamilton College; J.D., University of Pennsylvania
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Marion; two children
The Democrats held onto Pennsylvania’s 17th congressional district thanks to Matt Cartwright’s victory over Republican Laureen Cummings. Cartwright will replace moderate Democratic Rep. Tim Holden, whom he defeated in a primary fight.
Cartwright beat Holden, whom he had labeled too conservative, after redistricting by the GOP-controlled state legislature saw the Blue Dog Democrat placed into a much more Democratic district.
Cartwright has portrayed himself as much more liberal than his predecessor. He supports the Affordable Care Act, and has stated that the legislation did not do enough to expand coverage.
This was Cartwright’s first election. Prior to his successful bid for the House seat, he has worked as an attorney with the firm of Munley, Munley & Cartwright.
South Carolina
Rep.-elect Tom Rice (R-S.C.-07)
DATE OF BIRTH: Aug. 4, 1957
BIRTHPLACE: Charleston, S.C.
RESIDENCE: Myrtle Beach, S.C.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: M.A., University of South Carolina; J.D., University of South Carolina
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Chairman, Horry County Council
FAMILY: Wife, Wrenzie; three sons
The Republicans captured the newly created seventh congressional district in South Carolina with Tom Rice’s victory over Democrat Gloria Tinubu , who was also cross-endorsed by the South Carolina Working Families party.
Rice has been a resident of Horry County in the Northeastern part of the state since he was 4 years old. After receiving his master’s degree in accounting and a law degree, both from University of South Carolina, Rice worked for accounting and consulting firm Deloitte & Touche, where he earned his CPA certificate. In 1997, he struck out on his own, starting the Rice & MacDonald Law Firm.
A relative newcomer to politics, Rice was elected Chairman of Horry County Council in 2010 and focused on jobs; under his leadership, county council and community leaders worked on rebuilding the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation.
Texas
Sen.-elect Ted Cruz (R-Texas)
DATE OF BIRTH: Dec. 22, 1970
BIRTHPLACE: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
RESIDENCE: Houston
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: A.B., Princeton University; J.D., Harvard
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: State solicitor general (Note: This is an appointed position)
FAMILY: Wife, Heidi; two children
Ted Cruz has replaced retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison as the second Republican senator from Texas.
The Tea Party favorite went through a vigorous process to get to Washington: first he had to win a top-two spot in the Republican primary, which advanced him to a run-off election, where he beat Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.
Formerly the state’s longest-serving solicitor general, along with being the youngest solicitor general in the nation, Cruz made a name for himself in legal circles arguing cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, such as Medellin v. Texas.
He has been recognized repeatedly for his professional excellence; American Lawyer magazine named him one of the 50 best litigators under 45, and Texas Lawyer named him one of the 25 Greatest Lawyers of the past century. He was also the first Hispanic to ever clerk for a chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, under former Chief Justice William Rehnquist.
Cruz also was a well-regarded debater in college. At Princeton he won accolades such as U.S. National Speaker of the Year.
Rep.-elect Randy Weber (R-Texas-14)
DATE OF BIRTH: March 3, 1962
BIRTHPLACE: Houston
RESIDENCE: Alvin, Texas
OCCUPATION: Founder and owner of Weber’s Air and Heat
Education: B.S., University of Houston at Clear Lake
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Texas House of Representatives, 2008-2012; Pearland City Council
FAMILY: Wife, Brenda; three children
Randy Weber replaced long-serving congressman Ron Paul as the representative for Texas’s 14th congressional district, defeating opponents from the Democratic, Libertarian and Green parties. Prior to his political career, Weber started his air conditioning business, Weber’s Air and Heat, from scratch in 1981. His first foray into politics came nine years later when he won election to Pearland’s City Council, a position he kept for six years. In 2008, he became a member of the Texas House of Representatives, where he served on the committees of Environmental Regulation and Public Education and as the vice chairman of Border and Intergovernmental Affairs.
His work in the Legislature did not go unnoticed; he was named the recipient of the Courageous Conservative Award in 2009 by the Texas Conservative Coalition, a legislative caucus formed in 1985 to promote conservative values.
Rep.-elect Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas-16)
DATE OF BIRTH: Sept. 26, 1972
BIRTHPLACE: El Paso, Texas
RESIDENCE: El Paso, Texas
OCCUPATION: Small-businessman
EDUCATION: B.A., Columbia University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: El Paso City Council, 2005-2011
FAMILY: Wife, Amy; three children
The Democrats held onto their seat in Texas’s 16th congressional district with Beto O’Rourke’s win over Republican Barbara Carrasco and Libertarian Junart Sodoy.
O’Rourke, a fourth generation El Pasoan won the seat after unseating sitting Rep. Silvestre Reyes in the Democratic primary.
But this won’t be his first political office; O’Rourke previously served two terms on El Paso’s city council, representing the eighth district. His father, Pat, a county commissioner and judge, switched parties and ran an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 1996.
Before being elected to the city council, O’Rourke graduated from Columbia University in 1995 with a B.A. in English and began working in the emerging field of Web and Internet technology in New York. In 1998, he moved back to El Paso and started his own company, Stanton Street Technology Group.
Rep.-elect Joaquín Castro (D-Texas-20)
DATE OF BIRTH: Sept. 16, 1974
BIRTHPLACE: San Antonio, Texas
RESIDENCE: San Antonio, Texas
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: Texas State Representative
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD:
Congressman
FAMILY: Single
Joaquín Castro replaced his mentor, Democratic Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, in Congress.
He and his identical twin, Julián Castro, became star figures at the Democratic National Convention this summer, when Julian gave the keynote address and the twins were spotted seated next to first lady Michelle Obama during former President Clinton’s speech.
As a second-generation Mexican American, Castro has always taken pride in his accomplishments, which started out through the public education system. Despite a very tough political environment in Texas, he overcame the partisan gridlock and helped restore millions of dollars of funding in healthcare and education.
Before his run for Congress, he served five terms in the Texas state assembly.
Rep.-elect Pete Gallego (D-Texas-23)
Date of Birth: Dec. 2, 1961
Birthplace: Alpine, Texas
Residence: Austin, Texas
Education: B.A., Sul Ross State University; J.D., University of Texas School of Law — Austin
Occupation: Lawyer
Previous Office Held: State representative; serves on the board of directors of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO)
Family: Wife, Maria Elena Ramon
Pete Gallego beat Republican freshman Rep. Francisco “Quico” Canseco in one of the toughest House races in the country — a competitive seat that both parties fought to win.
The redistricting process made the San Antonio-based 23rd district the biggest swing in Texas. The newly redrawn district, which runs along the border with Mexico, is a minority majority, with 66 percent of its constituents Hispanics. The two candidates held one of their debates in Spanish.
Gallego had strong support from the Democratic Party, and former President Clinton came to the district to campaign for him.
A member of the Texas state legislature since 1991, Gallego stressed his work across the aisle during his campaign. During his tenure in the statehouse, he was known for his expertise in appropriations, law enforcement, criminal justice, campaign finance and victims’ rights.
Rep.-elect Roger Williams (D-Texas-25)
Date of birth: 1949
Birthplace: Fort Worth, Texas
Residence: Weatherford, Texas
Occupation: Businessman
Education: B.A., Texas Christian University
Previous offices held: Texas Secretary of State, 2005-2007
Family: Wife, Patty; two children
Republican Roger Williams ran against President Obama more than Democratic opponent Elaine Henderson, and the strategy paid off on Election Day.
Williams won by saying he wouldn’t let Obama change the United State into a nation “of takers” rather than “makers” and was critical of the president’s tax plan and healthcare law.
He had considered running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) but decided to run for the House instead.
Williams has done his part for Texas Republicans. He was a major advocate and campaigner for former President George W. Bush and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
He also serves on the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Board of Directors in a state where football is a way of life.
In college, Williams played baseball for Texas Christian University and tried to play professionally for the Atlanta Braves. When that didn’t work out, he joined his father in a family car dealership.
Rep.-elect Marc Veasey (D-Texas-33)
DATE OF BIRTH: Jan. 3, 1971
BIRTHPLACE: Tarrant County, Texas
RESIDENCE: Fort Worth, Texas
OCCUPATION: Teacher and sportswriter
EDUCATION: B.S., Texas Wesleyan University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Representative in the Texas State House
FAMILY: Wife, Tonya; one child
Marc Veasey beat Republican opponent Chuck Bradley in a new district created by the state’s redistricting process.
His campaign focused on four main issues; education, healthcare, jobs and immigration, as well as his belief that school closures and teacher layoffs in North Texas were due to Republicans cutting $5.4 billion from the public education system.
He was an early favorite to win the race in this Dem-leaning district and had the backing of Democratic leadership, including House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.).
Veasey has long been interested in politics. He told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram earlier this year that it started when he was 13 years old watching TV at his grandmother’s house, when the White House press briefing came on.
“I was fascinated with politics from then on,” he said.
Rep.-elect Filemon Vela (D-Texas-34)
DATE OF BIRTH: Feb. 26, 1965
BIRTHPLACE: Harlingen, Texas
RESIDENCE: Brownsville, Texas
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A., Georgetown University; J.D., University of Texas — Austin Law School
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas and U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
FAMILY: Wife, Rose
Democrat Filemon Vela won the newly created 34th district, which was the result of the redistricting process in Texas.
The Democratic-leaning district spans the Golf Coast between Brownsville and Corpus Christi. Vela is a native of the region.
His father was a federal judge appointed by former President Carter, and Vela continued the law tradition in his family, graduating from the University of Texas — Austin Law School.
Vela led an eight-person field in the May primary and went on to win the runoff election. He defeated Republican Jessica Puente Bradshaw in the general election.
Rep.-elect Steve Stockman (R-Texas-36)
DATE OF BIRTH: Nov. 14, 1956
BIRTHPLACE: Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
RESIDENCE: Friendswood, Texas
OCCUPATION: Business consultant
EDUCATION: San Jacinto College; B.S., University of Houston — Clear Lake
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: House of Representatives (1995-1997)
FAMILY: Wife, Patti
Steve Stockman has more congressional runs under his belt than most incoming freshmen.
He first ran for Congress in 1990, against then-Democratic Rep. Jack Brooks. He lost to Brooks both that year and again in 1992, but he prevailed in 1994, ending Brooks’s 42-year career.
He only served a single term, as the 1996 election proved an unusual year for Stockman: the district boundaries of his House seat were struck down by the courts as an illegal gerrymander, and Stockman found himself running in a new area. He lost to Democrat Nick Lampson by 6 points.
In 2006, he ran for former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s Texas seat and lost.
But in 2012 he triumphed, winning the newly created 36th district in Southeast Texas, which contains parts of his old district and is a heavy-Republican area.
UTAH
Rep.-elect Chris Stewart (R-Utah-12)
DATE OF BIRTH: July 15, 1960
BIRTHPLACE: Logan, Utah
RESIDENCE: Farmington, Utah
OCCUPATION: Author, businessman, politician, former Air Force pilot
EDUCATION: Utah State University
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: None
FAMILY: Wife, Evie Stewart; six children
Chris Stewart comes to Congress with two New York Times bestsellers in his pocket: Seven Miracles That Saved America and The Miracle of Freedom: Seven Tipping Points That Saved the World.
He grew up on a dairy farm, the son of a retired Air Force pilot and a teacher. After college, during which he took a year-long break to serve as a Mormon missionary in Texas, Stewart followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Air Force.
He set three world speed records during his tenure, where he flew rescue helicopters and the B-1B bomber.
Stewart is president and CEO of the Shipley Group, a consulting company that specializes in energy and environmental issues. He began writing books in 1990.
He is representing the newly-created 2nd district, which was a result of the redistricting process.
VIRGINIA
Sen.-elect Tim Kaine (D-Va.)
DATE OF BIRTH: Feb. 26, 1958
BIRTHPLACE: St. Paul, Minn.
RESIDENCE: Richmond, Va.
OCCUPATION: Senior distinguished lecturer on law and leadership, University of Richmond; lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A., University of Missouri; J.D., Harvard Law School
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, 2009-2011; governor of Virginia, 2005-2009; lieutenant governor of Virginia, 2001-2005
FAMILY: Wife, Anne Holton; three children
Tim Kaine will return to working side-by-side with his old friend Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.). Kaine served as Warner’s lieutenant governor before Warner was elected to the Senate.
Kaine beat someone who isn’t a stranger to the upper chamber, former Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), who was trying to get his seat back. Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), who defeated Allen in 2006 by less than 9,000 votes, decided to retire after just one term.
The race quickly became close, heated and nasty. In order to convince independent voters in a 50-50 state, Kaine often referenced his admiration for other Republicans, including former Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), as well as his father-in-law, former Republican Gov. Linwood Holton.
WASHINGTON
Rep.-elect Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.)
DATE OF BIRTH: Feb. 17, 1962
BIRTHPLACE: Selma, Ala.
RESIDENCE: Medina, Wash.
OCCUPATION: Former Corporate Vice President, Mobile Communications, Microsoft
EDUCATION: Reed College; M.B.A., University of Washington
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Director of the Washington State Department of Revenue, 2010-2012
FAMILY: Husband, Kurt; two children
In the most competitive race in Washington state this cycle, Democrat Suzan DelBene narrowly defeated her opponent, Republican John Koster.
DelBene set a Washington state record for self-financing in a congressional race, spending $2.8 million of her own money in both the primary and general elections.
The former Microsoft vice president, DelBene, campaigned on raising taxes on the wealthy, including herself, and tighter Wall Street regulations.
DelBene also used her experience as a job creator and businesswoman to her advantage during the campaign. She helped create drugstore.com as its original vice president of marketing and store development.
In 2010, DelBene ran against Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) and narrowly lost, but because of redistricting, the two are no longer in the same district.
Rep.-elect Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.-06)
DATE OF BIRTH: Jan. 1, 1974
BIRTHPLACE: Port Angeles, Wash.
RESIDENCE: Gig Harbor, Wash.
OCCUPATION: Businessman
EDUCATION: B.A., Princeton University; Ph.D., University of Oxford
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: State senator, 2006-2012; state representative, 2004-2007
FAMILY: Wife, Jennifer; two children
Derek Kilmer easily won in a heavily Democratic district. Kilmer announced his candidacy after Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) decided to retire, leaving the Washington state House delegation without its dean.
During the campaign, Kilmer focused on jobs, economic development and small businesses, touting his record as vice president at the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County. He also said his party needs to do a better job addressing the national debt by reducing the deficit.
In the State Legislature, he worked on veterans’ issues, passing legislation to make it easier for veteran-owned businesses to win state contracts and for veterans and their families to find housing and jobs.
The Seattle Times endorsed Kilmer as “a moderate Democrat” who is a “bipartisan problem-solver.”
Rep.-elect Denny Heck (D-Wash.-10)
DATE OF BIRTH: July 29, 1952
BIRTHPLACE: Vancouver, Wash.
RESIDENCE: Olympia, Wash.
OCCUPATION: Small-business owner
EDUCATION: B.A., Evergreen State College
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Chief of staff to Washington Gov. Booth Gardner, 1989-1993; state representative, 1977-1985
FAMILY: Wife, Paula; two children
Denny Heck was elected to Congress after narrowly losing in 2010 to Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.).
This time, Heck greatly outspent his Republican challenger, Dick Muri, in the newly drawn Democratic-leaning district.
Heck said the election was about jobs and that he believed the government needed to do more to stimulate the economy. He touted his record as a small-business owner, saying that experience provided him with a unique perspective as a job creator.
Heck co-founded TVW, a local television channel similar to C-SPAN, to provide Washington state citizens greater accessibility to their state government. In the state legislature, he focused on education issues.
WISCONSIN
Sen.-elect Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.)
DATE OF BIRTH: Feb. 11, 1962
BIRTHPLACE: Madison, Wis.
RESIDENCE: Madison, Wis.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer
EDUCATION: B.A., Smith College; J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: House of Representatives, 1999-2012; state representative, 1993-1999
FAMILY: None
Tammy Baldwin defeated long-time GOP politician Tommy Thompson to become the first openly gay U.S. senator.
The House member-turned-senator pointed out that her single mother raised her while they lived with her grandparents. The experience taught her the importance of entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security, which she said Republicans wanted to cut in order to give tax breaks to the wealthy.
Baldwin has long been an advocate for single-payer healthcare system, stating such in her first campaign for Congress. She’s also been very vocal in her opposition to the Iraq War.
She replaced Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), who retired.
Rep.-elect Mark Pocan (D-Wis.-02)
DATE OF BIRTH: Aug. 14, 1964
BIRTHPLACE: Kenosha, Wis.
RESIDENCE: Madison, Wis.
OCCUPATION: Businessman, journalist
EDUCATION: B.A., University of Wisconsin — Madison
PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD:
Dane County Board of Supervisors; member of Wisconsin State Assembly
FAMILY: Partner, Philip Frank
Mark Pocan replaces Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), who left to run for Senate, in the 2nd district. He also replaced her in the state Assembly when she left that body to run for the House.
Pocan was one of the more liberal members of the state assembly and ran on that record — a solid move, considering he’s replacing one of the most liberal members of Congress.
He is also openly gay and married his partner, Philip Frank, in Toronto, although their marriage is not legally recognized in Wisconsin.
Pocan was born and raised in Kenosha, Wis. After college, he opened up his own small business, a printing company named Budget Signs & Specialties.
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