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Vanishing class of ’94

by The Hill Editors - 05/18/10 10:34 PM ET

There were 73 freshman Republicans elected to the House in the class of
1994, but next year there will be only 10 left, even if those still
there all win reelection.

The 1994 wave of House Republicans ranges from MSNBC host Joe Scarborough to pro football Hall-of-Famer Steve Largent to the late Sonny Bono.

{mosads}Over the past 16 years, the Republican class has attracted many headlines, to say the least. Ethics scandals have hit five members: Bob Ney, Mark Foley, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Sen. John Ensign (Nev.) and Rep. Mark Souder (Ind.).

On Tuesday, after admitting to an extramarital affair, Souder announced he will resign from the House.

It is telling that as the biggest class of Republicans since 1994 is expected to be ushered into the House this fall, the members of that “revolution” are dwindling (even as its leader, Newt Gingrich, mulls a run for president in 2012).

Without a doubt, there are some very solid legislators from that year who remain in the House, including Reps. Doc Hastings (Wash.), Sue Myrick (N.C.), Walter Jones (N.C.) and Mac Thornberry (Texas).

Some have moved to the upper chamber — Sens. Sam Brownback (Kan.), Richard Burr (N.C.), Saxby Chambliss (Ga.), Tom Coburn (Okla.), Ensign, Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Roger Wicker (Miss.).

Bob Ehrlich is seeking a second stint as Maryland governor. Brownback and Rep. Zach Wamp (Tenn.) are also running for governor, while J.D. Hayworth (Ariz.) and Rep. Todd Tiahrt (Kan.) are running for the Senate.

Reps. Charlie Bass (N.H.) and Steve Chabot (Ohio), who were bounced from the House in 2006 and 2008, respectively, are seeking their old jobs back this year.
Some from the Class of 1994 have gone on to become lobbyists. A few, including Bono and Charlie Norwood, have died.

Ray LaHood is now a member of President Barack Obama’s Cabinet.

The group was historic, giving the GOP the majority in the House. Twelve years later, Democrats would take it back.

Like their predecessors 16 years go, House Republicans are once again crafting another Contract With America. The contract, which will be unveiled this fall, will be called something else and will consist of different agenda items.

But it remains to be seen if it will be as effective as the one that was written during President Bill Clinton’s first term. Either way, it’s clear the ’94 era is over, and Republicans are hoping a new GOP reign is in the offing.