New Faces To Watch In The House
Being the brother, sister, child or former aide of one of the 435 members of the House of Representatives would normally give that person a leg up on adjusting to their new surroundings in the U.S. Capitol. And while all of the above are represented in the new House, of the 51 freshmen, there are a few with even higher profiles who are already receiving the attention usually reserved for House veterans.
Topping the list of notable newcomers is Florida Republican Katherine Harris, known better as the secretary of state who oversaw the Sunshine State's 2000 presidential recount. While she's well-known nationally, and well-loved by Republicans after her handling of the Florida election, some argue it's her celebrity that will propel her in the 108th Congress. "She stands out more for her notoriety than her experience in public life," says Brookings Institution congressional scholar Thomas Mann.
One new face is definitely better known for his experience than his notoriety, however. Republican Bill Janklow served four terms as governor of South Dakota, as well as one term as the state's attorney general. While it may seem strange that a governor would move "downward" to a House seat, it's not unprecedented for a chief executive to run for the lower office: current Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del., was elected in 1992 after serving two terms as Delaware's governor. And, once, even the nation's chief executive made the move down to the House. President John Quincy Adams won a congressional seat in 1830, two years after losing a White House re-election bid.
The Democrats have a somewhat famous freshman of their own: Rahm Emanuel of Illinois. Emanuel is familiar to political junkies as former President Clinton's senior domestic policy adviser from 1994-2000. He joined the White House staff after working for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and as a fund-raiser for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.
Emanuel is no stranger to raising lots of campaign cash; he raised $3 million for his House campaign this year. His fund-raising prowess and his experience at the House Democratic campaign committee has prompted Emanuel to ask new Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to consider him for the post of DCCC executive director - not your usual request from a freshman.
Some observers have said Emanuel has a lot of nerve to throw his hat into the DCCC ring, but others say that kind of nerve could benefit the party. "After this year's election, maybe that's what we need," one Democratic House staffer told CBSNews.com. Regardless of whether Emanuel 's chosen or not, Democrats expect him to be a major player," the Brookings Institution's Mann said.
Two ethically challenged members of Congress, Democratic Reps. Gary Condit and James Traficant, both lost their bids for re-election this year - and they both lost to former employees.
Former Condit aide Dennis Cardoza defeated his old boss in the California Democratic primary in March, even after Condit's son Chad took to the airwaves calling Cardoza a "backstabber."
Tim Ryan, a former Traficant aide, jumped into the race to succeed his boss after the Ohio congressman was kicked out of the House and jailed for ethics violations. Traficant wound up running from prison as an independent after not running in the May Democratic primary. But unlike the Condit-Cardoza matchup, there were no hard feelings in this race. "I think the congressman is proud of him and the work he put in, and is pleased that he, at least in some part, has formed the candidate that took the Democratic primary," Traficant spokesman Charlie Straub said in May.
It's not just the famous - and infamous - that are standing out among the newcomers. A few freshmen this year will have a family ties to help them adjust to their new jobs, including two siblings of current members.
History was made on Election Day when Democrat Linda Sanchez won her race for a House seat in southern California. Sanchez won the neighboring seat to her sister, four-term Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez. They'll be the first sisters in American history to serve together in Congress.
Another sibling combo was formed on Election Day. Although they're not the first brothers to serve at the same time, six-term GOP Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., will be joined by his newly elected brother, Mario, who won a nearby district.
And there's yet another Florida family connection: Democrat Kendrick Meek succeeds his mother, Rep. Carrie Meek, who retired after five terms in the House.
While each new Senate class includes its share of famous, experienced faces, House rookies are usually a bit more raw. This year is an exception, Mann points out, as the new House class is "unusually mature" and "features a number of very prominent people." Perhaps that will give folks a reason to pay a little more attention to the lower body of Congress.
BY STEVE CHAGGARIS