New House Members Begin Capitol Hill Orientation

More than 110 incoming House members arrived on Capitol Hill for freshman orientation, the biennial introduction to Congress that follows the November 3 election. The new lawmakers are preparing for leadership votes and their terms, which begin in January.

Democrats won control of the House and Senate, picking up more than three dozen House seats and seven Senate seats. Races in Mississippi and Alaska remained undecided. Republicans fell short of their goal of flipping 15 House seats targeted in a redistricting push, though they won some seats.

Among the incoming members is Richard Ojeda, who defeated Republican Rep. Richard Hudson in North Carolina’s 9th District. Ojeda, a retired Army major and former state senator, will be the state’s first Hispanic member of Congress. Bobby Pulido, a Latin Grammy-winning musician, defeated Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz in Texas’ 15th District by nearly 25 points.

Other newcomers include Sam Forstag, a former smokejumper who flipped a Montana seat for Democrats, and Indiana state Sen. J.D. Ford, who defeated Rep. Victoria Spartz. Ford will be Indiana’s first openly gay person in Congress and the first Democrat to represent the district in nearly 35 years.

North Carolina’s LaKesha Womack, who defeated Rep. Tim Moore, faces felony charges related to a rental car. She appeared at the Capitol on November 8 but did not say whether she would support Hakeem Jeffries for speaker or name committee preferences. Womack was due in court on November 10.

Voters Deliver Democrats a House and Senate Majority

Democrats arrive at freshman orientation with a sweeping mandate from voters: the party captured both the House and Senate, picking up more than three dozen House seats and seven Senate seats. Mississippi and Alaska remained undecided, but Republicans had already fallen short of their target of flipping 15 House seats.

The incoming class includes lawmakers who broke new ground in their states. Richard Ojeda defeated Republican Rep. Richard Hudson in North Carolina’s 9th District and will become the state’s first Hispanic member of Congress. Indiana state Sen. J.D. Ford defeated Rep. Victoria Spartz, becoming the state’s first openly gay person elected to Congress and the first Democrat to represent the district in nearly 35 years.

Voters also sent Bobby Pulido, a Latin Grammy-winning musician, to Congress after he beat Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz by nearly 25 points in Texas’ 15th District. Sam Forstag, a former smokejumper, flipped a Montana seat for Democrats.

Over 110 newly elected representatives have gathered on Capitol Hill to begin their introductory sessions and prepare for leadership votes. The results mark a sharp rejection of Republican efforts to expand their House majority, while giving Democrats control of both chambers.

Republicans Fall Short as Democrats Take Both Chambers

Democrats’ gains have handed the party control of both chambers, with more than three dozen House seats and seven Senate seats won. Republicans fell short of the 15 House seats they targeted in their redistricting push, though they did win some races. Mississippi and Alaska Senate contests remained undecided.

The incoming class includes Richard Ojeda, who defeated Republican Rep. Richard Hudson in North Carolina’s 9th District. Ojeda’s win also makes him the state’s first Hispanic member of Congress. He drew attention after calling Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx “Satan’s Meemaw” in a social media post; Foxx was narrowly trailing in her race as of November 8.

In North Carolina’s 14th District, LaKesha Womack defeated Republican Rep. Tim Moore despite facing felony charges over an allegation that she failed to return a rental car. At the Capitol on November 8, she did not commit to supporting Hakeem Jeffries for speaker. Her court appearance was scheduled for November 10.

More than 110 incoming House members are attending orientation and preparing for leadership votes. The new class also includes Bobby Pulido, who beat Rep. Monica De La Cruz by nearly 25 points, and Sam Forstag, who flipped a Montana seat for Democrats.