Meet the Freshmen
A look at the incoming freshmen from safe Democratic House seats
There are 49 open US House seats this cycle and four vacancies. 42 of those seats are universally rated as safe meaning the new members from those seats may very well influence policy in Congress for decades to come. Who are all these people and what’s interesting about them? Earlier this year, the great Erin Covey writing for Cook Political Report explored some of these new members but now that all the primaries have concluded I wanted to do a deeper dive.
Arizona’s 3rd District: Downtown and western Phoenix
Who: The more moderate Phoenix City Councilor Yassamin Ansari defeated former Arizona Senate Minority Leader Raquel Teran in a very close race. Teran had a bunch of high profile endorsements including the support of Senator Mark Kelly. Ansari will be the youngest member of the Arizona congressional delegation and the first person of Iranian descent to represent Arizona in Congress.
What: As you’d expect for an urban district Democrat housing is one Ansari’s main policy priorities. She has emphasized her work on the Phoenix City Council and touted her endorsements from local unions. Urban renewal seems to be a major theme. She was not endorsed by any ideological caucuses but Teran was supported by the progressive caucus.
Why: At 32 years old and representing a safe Democratic seat Ansari could be a player in Arizona politics for the next several decades. Given that outgoing Rep. Ruben Gallego is likely to be Arizona’s next junior Senator this post may very well prove a launching pad for her.
California’s 12th District: Oakland and the Bay area
Who: A member of San Francisco’s Rapid Transit Board, Lateefah Simon was backed by outgoing Rep. Barbara Lee and Governor Gavin Newsom. She advanced to the general election against fellow Democrat the Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Tran and took 56% of the vote, which makes her the clear favorite for the seat. Simon is also a longtime friend of Kamala Harris and if Harris is elected President, expect Simon to be one of the more influential freshmen.
What: Though Simon lacks a policy page on her website a look at her background and endorsements suggests she will be one of the most liberal members of Congress, in line with Barbara Lee. Like Lee, she will be a member of the Progressive Caucus in Congress.
Why: She’s 47 years old and hails from one of America’s safest congressional districts. Given that Barbara Lee represented Oakland in Congress for 25 years, Simon is someone to watch as well. By congressional standards she’s quite young.
California’s 16th District: Silicon Valley
Who: Unlike CA-12 this district has no clear frontrunner in November. Two Democrats advanced in an extremely close race. Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo ran on a platform of urban renewal with an emphasis on fixing urban California’s most pressing issues like homelessness, affordability, and crime. He is backed by more moderate Democrats like the pro business New Democrat Coalition and some of the state’s center-left Democratic establishment. If elected to Congress, Liccardo would be a rare big city Mayor in office. San Jose though obscure is the nation’s 12th largest city.
Assemblyman Evan Low is the more progressive candidate, having been backed by progressive figures like Vermont Rep. Becca Balint and Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan. He is also a creature of local politics, having served as the Mayor of Campbell. He is the preferred candidate of Silicon Valley types as he strongly supports the development of crypto in the United States.
What: Both candidates would be reliable votes for the party but have differing priorities. This is a battle between the two dominant factions of California politics.
Why: Outgoing Rep. Anna Eshoo is known as a staunch Pelosi ally and the ideological contrasts between the two candidates has long term consequences in this ultra Democratic seat. Liccardo would probably be ideologically closer to Eshoo than Low. At 54, Liccardo is also a decade older than Evan Low.
California’s 29th District: San Fernando Valley
Who: State Assemblywoman Luz Rivas advanced to the general election against a Republican meaning she will be the next member from CA-29.
What: A graduate of MIT and Harvard, Rivas is an engineer by trade and her focus in the legislature has been on empowering Los Angeles’ many impoverished communities.
Why: Rivas was endorsed by the California Legislative Progressive Caucus and her victory will be another step leftward in the California delegation. She also had the backing of the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC. Another win for progressives in an open seat.
California’s 30th District: Burbank
Who: State Assemblywoman Laura Friedman advanced to the general election against a Republican in this deep blue Burbank based district, meaning she is a lock to succeed Adam Schiff.
What: Friedman is generally to the left of Schiff on most issues but is notably backed by the Democratic Majority for Israel PAC. Nevertheless her victory in the primary was a win for progressive as she is supported by the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC. Schiff began his career in Congress as a Blue Dog back when this district was competitive.
Why: Friedman’s victory will mean a big shift leftward in this district and her support from the district’s powerful film industry could be something to watch if Congress ever takes up copyright law again. At 57, Friedman is a bit on the older side for freshman but nevertheless she is likely to hold this seat for many years.
California’s 31st District: San Gabriel Valley
Who: Former Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and former Congressman from CA-39 Gil Cisneros advanced to the general election to succeed outgoing Rep. Grace Napolitano. Pre-politics Cisneros is most famous for having won the lottery.
What: Cisernos’ website has a detailed policy page and it’s no surprise that he’s particularly about defense policy. Notably disability rights receive a mention on his policy page, something unfortunately rare to see. In Congress Cisneros was previously a member of the New Democrat Coalition and he received their support in his bid to return to Congress.
Why: His prior service in Congress means he gets a leg up in seniority vs other members of the freshman class and that is an asset for his district given the loss in seniority with Rep. Napolitano’s retirement.
Delaware’s At-Large District: Delaware
Who: State Senator Sarah McBride won the Democratic nomination in a landslide as expected. She is set to be the first openly transgender member of Congress. McBride is a former staffer for the Human Rights Campaign and Beau Biden’s 2010 reelection campaign for Attorney General of Delaware. She also worked in the Obama White House and is generally known for her strong relationship with the Biden family.
What: McBride is running to the left of Rep. Lisa Blunt-Rochester who is seeking election to Delaware’s Class I US Senate seat. She is likely to be Delaware’s most liberal member of Congress ever. McBride is generally regarded as a progressive though some on the left take issue with her stance on Israel-Palestine. Like Blunt Rochester, McBride had the support of the New Democrats PAC. She was also backed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Our Revolution.
Why: In addition to her status as America’s first openly transgender member of Congress, McBride is also quite youthful at 34 years old. She’ll be representing a solidly Democratic state that only sends three people to Congress. It’s a fair bet we’ll be hearing from her for many years to come.
Maryland’s 2nd District: northern Baltimore suburbs
Who: Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski or as he’s more popularly known - Johnny O cleared the field upon his announcement. Olszewski has a long background in local politics and is the son of former Baltimore City Councilor John Olszewski Sr. Also of note is the Republican nominee - Kim Klacik, who is most famous for having run for Maryland’s 7th District before. This district is safely Democratic so don’t expect an upset here.
What: Backed by the centristy New Democrats, Olszewski is a business friendly normie Democrat. His policy page isn’t terribly detailed but it appears to be the standard Democratic stuff and he was supported by the New Democrat PAC.
Why: At age 42, he is 36 years younger than outgoing Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger. Given his known political aspirations, he is someone to watch over the next few decades in Maryland.
Maryland’s 3rd District: Annapolis, Baltimore suburbs
Who: State Senator Sarah Elfreth won the Democratic nomination over former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and a crowded field of candidates. Elfreth was the subject of considerable spending by AIPAC and was the only candidate in the primary who was open to receiving support from corporate PACs, an unusual move in a Democratic Primary these days. She is also well known for her constituent services in the Maryland Senate and represented a larger part of the district than the other candidates.
What: In the Maryland Senate Elfreth serves on the Budget and Transportation Committees and outside politics works on conservation and fishery management. Some of her top issues on her campaign site include government transparency and protecting the Chesapeake Bay. It seems likely she’ll be a hyper local Congresswoman in office. Like Olszewski, she was backed by the New Democrats as well.
Why: In 2018 she was the youngest woman elected to the Maryland Senate and in office she will be by far the youngest member of the Maryland congressional delegation. Each Representative from Maryland is over 60 and at 36 Elfreth could have a long career ahead of her.
Minnesota’s 3rd District: western Minneapolis suburbs
Who: Former State Senator Kelly Morrison won the Democratic nomination to succeed outgoing Congressman Dean Phillips, who mounted a quixotic bid for President this cycle. Morrison, an OB-GYN by trade was first elected to the Minnesota House in 2018 and then the Senate in 2022.
What: In a post Dobbs era Morrison has heavily focused on her medical experience and support of reproductive rights in the Minnesota legislature. She has focused on her efficacy as a legislator, touting the numbers of bills she got passed in her five years in the legislature. Something unique I see on her policy page is an emphasis on mental health issues. Her campaign site touts the awards she has received from psychiatric groups so it’s clear this is an issue she is passionate about. Ideologically, Morrison is a mainstream Democrat and was backed by the political arm of the New Democrat Coalition.
Why: Given the way this once competitive district has trended, Morrison is likely to hold this seat for some time. Her profile is compelling and she would make for an interesting statewide candidate down the line.
Missouri’s 1st District: St. Louis
Who: St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell ousted controversial Rep. Cori Bush in the Democratic primary this year. Bush is controversial for any number of reasons and this was one of the most expensive House races of the year. Bell won by a decent but not particularly impressive margin given the heavy spending.
What: Bell very much ran as a mainstream Democrat and leaned on his experience as a prosecutor. It should be no surprise that gun violence is a top issue for him. Hard to say where he’ll lean ideologically but he’ll probably join the New Democrat Coalition.
Why: Ousting a well known incumbent inherently makes someone like Bell newsworthy. His smaller than expected win could very well make him a target of a serious primary challenge as well. We’ll see if Bush runs again and if she does that could make MO-1 the site of yet another highly contested Democratic primary.
New Jersey’s 3rd District: South Central Jersey, Burlington area
Who: Longtime legislator Assemblyman Herb Conaway won the Democratic primary to succeed outgoing Rep. Andy Kim. A medical doctor and Air Force veteran, Conaway has had an extensive career and has become a major player in the New Jersey legislature.
What: Conaway’s issues page is relatively small but makes up for it in details. He emphasizes the economic impacts of COVID and his medical and legislative experience in healthcare policy. As for where he stands ideologically, Conaway was the endorsed by the New Democrats PAC.
Why: Conaway will be South Jersey’s first Black Congressman and his wealth of experience could make him a freshman to watch. When Democrats get another federal trifecta, watch someone like Conaway if Democrats decide to tackle healthcare reform again.
New York’s 16th District: Southern Westchester County and parts of the Bronx
Who: Westchester County Executive George Latimer ousted incumbent Rep. Jamaal Bowman in a divisive Democratic primary that largely fell along racial lines. Latimer’s victory was powered by his overwhelming strength in wealthy white southern Westchester while Bowman ran up the score in the tiny sliver of the Bronx that’s located in the district
What: Latimer was not endorsed by any of the ideological caucuses in the Democratic Party but it’s well known where his views lie. Latimer is likely to be among the most moderate Democrats in the next Congress. Latimer heavily touted his support for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill which Bowman opposed. Other key policies for Latimer are support for Israel and Ukraine. For the most part, Latimer is a mainstream Democrat.
Why: Latimer is noteworthy for a few reasons. One is that as Westchester County Executive he holds a more powerful office and represents a larger constituency than he will in Congress. These kinds of moves are uncommon but not unheard of. George Latimer will also receive some media coverage due to his age. He’ll take office in January at 71 years of age, which makes him an unusually old freshman Congressman.
Oregon’s 3rd District: Portland area
Who: State Rep. Maxine Dexter defeated more progressive candidates in the primary including former Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal. This race saw heavy spending and for good reason: it’s one of the most Democratic seats in the nation. Rep. Earl Blumenauer has represented it since 1996 and Senator Ron Wyden represented for a long time before him. Dexter is a pulmonologist (a doctor who specializes in the respiratory system) and won the primary with a bevy of local endorsements, including The Oregonian’s editorial board. Local newspapers are still fairly important in the Democratic primaries.
What: Housing is a major priority for Dexter, given the acute housing crisis Oregon and other blue states face. Also focuses on heavily on addiction and mental health, two issues that disproportionately effect Portland. As you’d expect for someone with a medical background healthcare dominates her issues page.
Why: Dexter’s victory was a defeat for progressives hoping to retain one of the nation’s bluest congressional district and a win for center-left Democrats. Oregon has not sent a woman to the Senate in decades and with Senator Wyden getting up there in age, Dexter could be a major contender should that seat open up soon.
Texas’ 32nd District: Northern Dallas
Who: State Rep. Julie Johnson won the primary to succeed outgoing Rep. Collin Allred who is running for Senate against Senator Ted Cruz. Johnson, an attorney has served in the Texas House since 2019.
What: For the most part it seems like Johnson is running on the typical democratic platform but one with a few issues that are specific to her predominately urban district. Her policy page does make mention of affordable housing, a key issue in a rapidly growing state like Texas. She also mentions the legalization of marijuana, which is not something I’ve on other issue pages so far.
Why: Johnson, who is married to a woman will be the first LGBT member of Congress from Texas since Barbara Jordan retired in 1979. Other than that, hard to say if there’s anything notable or significant about her.
Virginia’s 10th District: DC suburbs and exurbs
Who: State Senator Suhas Subramanyam won the Democratic primary for this seat following the retirement of Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. Subramanyam, a State Senator from Loudoun County won the primary thanks to his strength in his home county.
What: As has been a common theme in other open suburban seats, Subramanyam is endorsed by the New Democrat Coalition’s PAC. Issues wise, there’s a few things on his issues page that are different from other Dems I’ve seen. AI regulation is mentioned, which is something I’ve not seen before. Renewable energy and ending money in politics are also new issues that I have not seen elsewhere.
Why: Well for one thing that’s unusual is that he has the support of both former Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock and current Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. If that’s any indication of how well liked he is then it seems likely we’ll be seeing his name for quite some time to come.
Washington’s 6th District: Tacoma and the Olympic Peninsula
Who: State Senator Emily Randall advanced to the general election against fellow Senator Drew MacEwen. Given that MacEwen is a Republican, that ensures Randall is headed to Congress in January.
What: Randall is supported by both the New Dems and the Progressive Caucus so while still a mainstream Democrat she is regarded as left of Rep. Kilmer. Despite that the progressive caucus endorsement, she was backed by several more moderate members of the Washington delegation including Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Marilyn Strickland as well as Senator Patty Murray. Murray is known for rarely weighing in on primaries so her endorsement was very noteworthy.
Her platform for the most part is not terribly interesting but I do see that she is supportive of blockchain, which is something unusual for most Democrats, though perhaps not too surprising for a Washington Democrat. The state has traditionally been known as a tech hub over the years.
Why: Randall beat out State Land Commissioner Hillary Franz who was initially viewed as the frontrunner when Rep. Derek Kilmer announced he would not seek reelection. Franz had a statewide profile and the support of Congressman Kilmer and his predecessor former Congressman Norm Dicks. An openly lesbian woman, Randall will be Washington state’s only LGBT member of Congress as well.
That’s all for now folks. Maybe I’ll write something about the incoming freshmen Republican too but I’ll probably write something again post election.