A NEW CONGRESS
The 117th Congress was sworn in Monday. Three days later, an angry mob stormed the nation’s Capitol and halted their proceedings. To show their determination to Americans, they resumed the work of the people a few hours later. Here’s a look at today’s Congress and how it compares to those of the past.
There are at least 67 new members of Congress. Seven of these members are senators and 60 are representatives. Rep. Luke Letlow, R-La., also would have been sworn in as a new member of Congress on Monday, but he died from complications related to COVID-19 on Dec. 29.
Heading into the 2020 elections, there were 53 open seats — four in the Senate and 49 in the House — where it was certain that a new member would be elected. Forty were open because the incumbent did not seek reelection. Eight were open because the incumbent was defeated in a primary or convention. Five seats were vacant after the previous incumbent died, resigned, or was appointed to another position.
Three incumbent senators, one Democrat and two Republicans, were defeated by candidates of the opposing party. Twelve Democratic representatives were defeated by Republican candidates.
Marilyn Strickland, D-Wash., Michelle Steel, R-Calif., and Young Kim, R-Calif., are the first Korean American women elected to Congress. Yvette Herrell, R-N.M., is the first Native American woman elected from the Republican party. Kaiali’i Kahele, D-Hawaii, is only the second native Hawaiian elected in the nearly 60 years of Hawaiian statehood..