Learning Curve: New Players in Congress

Every two years, the period between the November elections and the start of a new Congress is often the busiest time to cover Congress.

Journalists try to find out who won their votes and who lost. Congress is here is back, trying to prevent a government shutdown and often planting in the environment of other big laws. There are often leadership elections. For example, Sen. John Thune, RS.D., defeated Sen. John Cornyn, R-Tex., and Rick Scott, R-Fla., to succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as the top. The GOP leader in the Senate. The tune starts as the Big Leader Friday afternoon. We don't yet know how much trouble House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., faces in returning to the Speaker's House. It took former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., 15 terms before he was endorsed for Speakership in 2023.

Time management is a problem for me with so many things going on. The new Congress begins at noon on January 3. So I spend time between elections and the beginning of learning the new Congress, learning and memorizing the faces and biographies of as many incoming lawmakers as possible.

It takes time. It's a challenge to distinguish one rookie from another. Even finding the right names and names.

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It's a learning process.

This process is intensified during the holidays. It's the ultimate way to kick things off on January 3rd.

Some people are easier to learn than others. Sens. Andy Kim, DN.J., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif., were household names in the House before entering the Senate. In fact, they have become senators. Some new senators are in high standing because they ran in competitive races. Consider Sens.-elect Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., and Dave McCormick, R-Penn. Sen.-elect Jim Justice, RW.V., did not face a tough race for the Senate. But Justice cut the national stage before winning – as did his constant canine companion Babydog.

But the real joy is getting to know all the new House Members.

A house is a huge place. 435 people. Some new faces are emerging in the House. But much is unclear. And it is very difficult to learn some of them if they did not meet the competition race or they were not known.

The House begins with 62 new Members plus non-elected representatives on Friday. My goal is to learn them all.

My daily exercise routine is a great opportunity for this. After all, the pace of Congress is like a treadmill. But for me, learning a youth group is like an elliptical. I read the list of faces and names again and again – as my legs tremble every morning. I cycle through the entire list of the House at least twice. Then I move the list to the stationary bike and learn more there.

Some names stand out more than others. For example, Rep.-elect Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, was known before the election. He defeated Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, in a close race this fall. After all, his last name is steeped in American political history – but mostly too Democratic Party. His uncle is Sen. Former Rep. Mark Begich, D-Alaska. His grandfather, Rep. Nick Begich, D-Alaska, died in a 1972 plane crash with House Majority Leader Hale Boggs, D-La. Boggs is the father of late ABC and NPR reporter Cokie Roberts.

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I try to meet as many members of the youth group that come in as possible. But as I wrote earlier, bandwidth is limited. All the freshmen descend on the Capitol complex during this uncertain time after the midterm elections. There are not enough minutes in the day.

But I was having a drink with my good friend at The Monocle, a historic Capitol Hill watering hole, a few weeks ago. I saw Sen. Former Begich came in – but he didn't listen to him to say goodbye. A few seconds later, the Congressman passed by. I shook his hand, introduced myself and gave him a business card.

Trust me: it's easier to memorize a youth group if you meet the members in person. And I was proud of myself for being able to vote for Rep.-elect Begich in the majority – based on my studies.

I spent a little time chatting with Reps.-elect Julie Fedorchak, RN.D., and Dave Taylor, R-Ohio. So I am sure to know those members.

Then there are people who left Congress – they are back. The same is true of Reps. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., and Cleo Fields, D-La. Stutzman has served in Congress for the past several years and is returning. Fields served in the House nearly three decades ago in the 1990s when he was thirty years old.

I talked about agents earlier.

Del.-elect Kimberlyn King-Hinds, R-Northern Mariana Islands, comes to Washington as a freshman. He succeeds in retiring from Del. Kilili Sablan, D-Northern Mariana Islands. I haven't met King-Hinds yet. But the last few photos show her wearing a tropical flower headband. I don't know if that's what King-Hinds wears all the time. But such clothes would make it easy to recognize King-Hinds.

For example, the signature cowboy hat worn by Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., makes her stand out.

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There are also pronunciations. Not every name is as easy as Rep.-elect Tim Moore, RN.C., or Rep.-elect Gabe Evans, R-Colo. Try Rep.-elect Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va. It's pronounced soo-bruh-MAHN—yum. The donation by Rep.-elect Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., is pronounced HAMM-uh-day. And the aforementioned Julie Fedorchak says her last name is fedd-ORR-check.

I enlisted in the army Fox News Radio reporter Ryan Schmelz to ask me about the backgrounds of some of the young people – as well as to compare photos with names. I had no problem guessing correctly when Schmelz showed me a photo of Rep.-Candidate Sarah Elfreth, D-Md. He succeeds in leaving Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md.

But I stumbled when Schmelz pointed to a picture of Rep.-elect Maxine Dexter, D-Ore. I immediately knew that the candidate for Congress was named “Maxine.” I was sure he was a Democrat from Oregon. I even know who succeeded: Rep. Retiring Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore. But I couldn't find the last name. I wanted to say “Deeter.” But I knew that wasn't right.

So, Schmelz beat me there.

But it's a learning curve. And even though I didn't know Dexter then, you can bet I won't forget him now.

And I can't wait to meet him. I have known his successor for years.

But really, you don't learn Members by studying a book. You learn them by seeing them in the hall. Chatting with them in Speaker's Square. Talking to them in interviews. To see how they do in court. Look at how they behave on the ground.

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And the best way to learn them?

Watch how to vote and act as a Member of Congress.