119th Congress - Key Senators to Watch

The Senate convened for the first session of the 119th Congress with several new faces among their ranks following a contentious 2024 election cycle. Including Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) who assumed their offices in late 2024, there are 14 freshmen in the upper chamber.

From House to Senate

Seven of the new Senators may get lost on their way to their new offices as they previously served in the House of Representatives. In addition to Schiff and Kim, Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Jim Banks (R-IN), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and John Curtis (R-UT) all bring their expertise at the federal level with them. Many of these new Senators, Kim, Schiff, Gallego, Banks, and Slotkin, made their names in the House as leading voices on national security and can be expected to lean in on those issues in the Senate.

Ohio Newbies

The Buckeye State is starting over after years of senior representation in the Senate with former Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) representing the state. After Brown’s loss in November, coupled with JD Vance’s election as Vice President, the state now faces the unenviable task of having two freshmen Senators, Bernie Moreno (R-OH) and Jon Husted (R-OH), who both lack any experience at the federal level. Expect them to rely heavily on Vance’s position and their House delegation where several long-time Members remain.