United States: Outlook For The 111th Congress

Economy Is Job #1

While both presidential campaigns made bold statements about enacting sweeping reforms to effectuate change throughout government and virtually every sector of the economy, the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress will be faced with the reality and challenges of a sinking economy and unstable financial markets. We can expect that economic stimulus proposals and other efforts to create jobs, bolster consumer confidence, and place financial institutions on sound footing will take precedence over other issues. The growing budget deficit, the possibility that pay-as-you-go rules will be adopted again by the House of Representatives, and the increasing numbers and clout of conservative Democrats in Congress will mean that every spending proposal will face intense scrutiny and some may not be adopted unless the cost is offset by spending cuts and/or tax increases. It remains to be seen how Congress will deal with the Alternative Minimum Tax, which is affecting a growing number of middle class voters. Any attempt to fix the problem will be extremely costly.

Flexing Some Regulatory Muscle

While on the campaign trail, Governor Schwarzenegger claimed not to be impressed with Senator Obama's physique. Yet, the new President will find himself with considerable regulatory muscle. The Obama Administration probably will seek to make greater use of its regulatory authority to implement much of the President's agenda. Certain Bush Administration regulatory policies and guidance (such as environmental and Medicaid rules) may be overturned or amended relatively early in the new Administration. We also are likely to see significant oversight and regulation of the financial sector.

Hitching A Ride On The Stimulus Train

To the extent that issues can be linked to economic stimulus goals, they stand a greater chance of passage and could well be included in economic stimulus legislation. We already are hearing arguments connecting the need for Medicaid assistance and improving the nation's infrastructure with the troubled economy. Similarly, we can expect that energy independence will be linked in some way to economic stability. Funding for hydropower, hydrogen fuel, wind, solar, and natural gas initiatives and additional incentives for hybrid vehicles are likely to be included in an energy package. President-elect Obama's proposals for middle class tax cuts also fit into this category. The business community is concerned that secret balloting will be eliminated for union membership, a proposal that has the strong support of Congressional Democrats and the President-elect. The business lobby will rely on Senate Republicans to help fend off this legislation.

As Long As You Have Your Health....

With regard to health care reform, we can look forward to Congressional hearings, the release of reform proposals by committees of jurisdiction, bill introductions, policy papers, and outside coalition activities. Senate HELP Committee Chairman Ted Kennedy (D-MA) has been working feverishly behind the scenes on developing health care reform options. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) sent a congratulatory letter to President-elect Obama in which he reiterated his commitment to moving forward on health care reform.

Notwithstanding the above, the difficult budget situation most likely spells delay in enacting comprehensive health reform efforts, until 2010 or beyond. However, this does not mean a light health care agenda for the 111th Congress. In fact, it could well be quite robust. SCHIP will be among the first health care issues to be addressed by the new Congress. Congress will no longer face a Presidential veto threat that previously halted efforts to significantly expand the program.

A Medicare package will be considered later in 2009. While the impetus will be averting yet another physician payment reduction (particularly in light of the adverse impact of the credit crisis on physician practices), Congress is likely to enact numerous changes to the Medicare program, including modifications to the Part D benefit, drug price negotiating authority, extension of the therapy cap exceptions process, cuts to Medicare Advantage plans (equalizing reimbursement with fee-for-service rates), and cuts to other providers.

Health information technology is an area that continues to enjoy bipartisan support and is viewed by many as the foundation for future health reform efforts. Since much of the groundwork has been laid, we could see swift action on this issue.

Congress and the Obama Administration will be looking for other health care accomplishments. Likely candidates include reducing the incidence of hospital-acquired infections, creating a pathway for generic biologics, drug safety initiatives, and improving the quality of care in all health care settings, including long term care facilities, through delivery system reforms.

It's All About The People

Much of the legislative agenda will be influenced by the personalities and priorities of committee chairmen. As of this writing, we are faced with many unanswered questions. Will Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rangel (D-NY) be forced to relinquish his chairmanship due to his ethics investigation? If so, who will occupy this critical slot? Will Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) succeed in toppling powerful Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI)? How will these two committees, which have a history of friction, handle issues over which they share jurisdiction? Will Senator Kennedy's personal health situation allow him to continue an aggressive role in shaping health care policy? Will changes in the leadership and makeup of the Appropriations Committees affect funding for health care research and other priorities?

Whatever the challenges presented by these issues, they can be overcome by President Obama if he takes advantage of his "honeymoon" period and asserts his leadership early on in setting the agenda and tone in Washington. Given the close collaboration between the Bush and Obama transition teams and the speed with which the President-elect is putting together his White House team, which will include veterans of the Clinton Administration, all indications are that President Obama will be in a good position to hit the ground running and take control of the policy-making agenda in Washington.

It is worth noting that the Administration's gain could mean a "loss" for Congress if the President taps Members of Congress and Congressional staff for Administration positions. Phil Schiliro, long-time chief of staff to Rep Henry Waxman, has been asked to be Director of Congressional Relations in the Obama transition team. Rep. Rahm Emmanuel (D-IL) has agreed to serve as the President's chief of staff. It is rumored that Rep. DeLauro (D-CT), Rep. Clyburn (D-SC), and Senator Kerry (D-MA) could be tapped for official roles in the Administration. We also have heard numerous rumors about senior Congressional staff migrating to the White House and the agencies. A "brain drain" of key committee staff could affect the institutional knowledge base in Congress as well as the pace of legislative activity. It certainly could elevate the importance of the "education phase" of lobbying efforts.

Meet The New Neighbors

Below is a brief introduction to the new Members of the House and Senate:

SENATE

COLORADO

Mark Udall (D) succeeds Sen. Wayne Allard (R), who retired. Environmental and energy issues will command Udall's attention, much as they did in the House where he served five terms. Udall calls for boosting federal investment in renewable energy and requiring new vehicle fuel efficiency of at least 35 miles per gallon by 2015 and 50 miles per gallon by 2030.

IDAHO

Jim Risch (R) succeeds Sen. Larry Craig (R), who retired. He advocates for a comprehensive approach to energy, one that takes advantage of every option available to industry, including the promotion and use of solar, nuclear and geothermal energy. Risch supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and federal investment in "clean" coal technology. Risch has held elected offices in the state for more than 30 years.

NEBRASKA

Mike Johanns (R) succeeds retiring Sen. Chuck Hagel (R). He has had a long career in executive service as a mayor, governor and Cabinet secretary (Agriculture, President George W. Bush). He supports a permanent extension of the Bush administration's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and a permanent tax credit for research and development.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Jeanne Shaheen (D) defeated Sen. John Sununu (R). She is a former governor (1997-2003) and has said energy issues will be a top priority. Her energy plan offers refundable tax credits for winter heating fuels. Shaheen also advocates redirecting oil subsidies into tax credits for alternative energy and energy efficiency. She lists health care as another priority and hopes to offer Americans more access to preventive care and investment in health care technology. As a small business owner, she is also concerned with the ability of small businesses to provide health care to their employees.

NEW MEXICO

Tom Udall (D) succeeds Sen. Pete Domenici (R), who retired. A five-term U.S. House member and former attorney general (1991-1999), Udall wants to diversify the missions of the Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories, two major Energy Department installations in the state. He says the labs and local small businesses could have stronger connections. He also says that New Mexico could be a leader in developing the "new energy economy" with an emphasis on the state's abundant supply of wind and solar energy. Udall wants universal health care coverage and says he supports allowing uninsured Americans over the age of 55 to buy into Medicare at a fixed cost. He also says that small businesses should be allowed to buy into the federal employee benefit package that applies to Members of Congress.

NORTH CAROLINA

Kay Hagan (D) defeated Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R). She arrives in Washington with extensive experience working on budget issues in the state Senate, where she served on the Appropriations Committee, and as a bank executive. Hagan says she supports pay-as-you-go rules to balance the federal budget and she has vowed to step up enforcement of tax laws to go after $350 billion in taxes she says go uncollected annually. On health care, Hagan favors allowing re-importation of prescription drugs to cut prices. She says Congress should reauthorize and strengthen SCHIP and expand coverage to mental health care. She supports programs to encourage small businesses to provide health care, such as giving them the chance to pool coverage with other small businesses and providing tax credits for premiums.

OREGON

Jeff Merkley (D) defeated Sen. Gordon Smith (R). Merkley has served as Oregon's House speaker and is a former Congressional Budget Office analyst. Citing a deep interest in health care that he shares with his wife, a registered nurse, he is hoping for a seat on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

VIRGINIA

Mark Warner (D) succeeds Sen. John Warner (R), who retired. Warner, a popular governor from 2002-2006, has said he wants to build coalitions of both parties in the Senate, where he says he will exhibit the same bipartisan impulses as he did in Richmond. As governor, he worked with some Republican legislators to close a budget shortfall through spending cuts and tax increases.

UNDECIDED SENATE SEATS

These individuals are challengers in Senate races that have not yet been called:

ALASKA

Mark Begich (D) is in his fifth year as mayor of Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. With one of the nation's largest concentrations of both active duty military and veterans, Begich has increased the city's support for military personnel. Begich has also supported programs for young people, including ensuring affordable student loans for Alaska's college and vocational-technical students when he was chair of the statewide Alaska Student Loan Corporation. His opponent is Sen. Ted Stevens (R).

GEORGIA

Jim Martin (D) has served 18 years in the state legislature as well as several positions in the executive branch of the state government. Martin calls for lower taxes on middle class Americans while maintaining fiscal discipline. He also advocates for strong consumer protection laws to protect Americans from predatory practices at credit card companies, insurance companies, banks, and oil companies. A run-off election with current Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R), who leads in the vote count, has been scheduled for Dec. 2, 2008.

MINNESOTA

Al Franken (D) is an award-winning satirist, author and comedy writer for Saturday Night Live. He was the host of Air America Radio's "The Al Franken Show," the liberal network's flagship program. Current Sen. Norm Coleman (R) holds a narrow lead over Franken. An automatic recount of votes has begun.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ALABAMA

Bobby Bright (D-2) succeeds Rep. Terry Everett (R), who retired. Bright is the first Democrat to win this seat in nearly 50 years but has promised to be fiscally conservative. He was endorsed late in his campaign by the Blue Dog Coalition. In addition, Bright is anti-abortion and opposes gun control. He is seeking seats on the Armed Services and Agriculture Committees.

Parker Griffith (D-5) is a physician (oncologist) and state senator. After spending much of his life treating cancer patients, Griffith hopes to focus his efforts on access to and affordability of health care. Griffith, who won the early endorsement of the Blue Dog Coalition, promises to fill the conservative shoes left by retiring Rep. Bud Cramer (D).

ARIZONA

Ann Kirkpatrick (D-1) succeeds Rick Renzi (R), who retired. A state legislator, Kirkpatrick is interested in seats on both the Transportation and Infrastructure and Homeland Security Committees. She also hopes to obtain results in two other areas: increasing school funding without the mandates of the No Child Left Behind law and providing veterans and children with what she calls adequate and accessible health care.

CALIFORNIA

Duncan Hunter (R-52) succeeds his father who retired after an unsuccessful bid for President. Hunter served in the Marine Corps. and is a strong advocate for military, national security and defense issues. He is aiming for a seat on the Armed Services Committee.

COLORADO

Jared Polis (D-2) succeeds Mark Udall (D), who successfully ran for Senate. At 33, Polis will be one of the youngest members in the House and one of the wealthiest. He earned millions from online businesses during the technology boom in the 1990s. Polis served six terms on the state Board of Education from 2001-2007 before running for Congress and has pledged to use his background in education policy to help rewrite the No Child Left Behind law. Polis supports a government-run "single payer" system of delivering health insurance.

Betsy Markey (D-4) defeated Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R). As a former business owner, Markey supports pay-as-you-go budget rules and vows to fight "pork-barrel spending" and to reduce earmarks. She is familiar with the challenges small businesses face in providing health insurance. Markey is a former Colorado-based aide to Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar.

Mike Coffman (R-6) succeeds retiring Rep. Tom Tancredo (R). Coffman brings a long record of military and state government experience to Congress, where he plans to focus on national security and energy.

CONNECTICUT

Jim Himes (D-4) defeated Rep. Christopher Shays (R), the last Republican Member in New England. He describes energy and health care as the "critical issues of the decade." For health care, he wants a hybrid public-private system that improves efficiency and offers universal health care.

FLORIDA

Alan Grayson (D-8) defeated Rep. Ric Keller (R). Grayson's previous work investigating government fraud and waste in the Iraq War has led him to call for shifting the country's focus to domestic needs. Grayson supports expanding health care coverage to all Americans and ensuring that all citizens have the power to choose their own medical providers. Another concern for Grayson is improving elder care and benefits for senior citizens. He recommends eliminating double taxation of Social Security benefits and expanding Medicare coverage for hearing aids, eye care and more prescription drugs.

Bill Posey (R-15) succeeds retiring Rep. Dave Weldon (R). Posey made "accountability" his mission during 16 years in Florida's state government. He helped write the law that requires each state agency to create a one-page summary of its budget, what it does and what it spends.

Tom Rooney (R-16) defeated freshman Rep. Tim Mahoney (D). Rooney wants to restore conservative principles to a seat that has been under Democratic control since last year and to a party that he says has strayed from its core values. Rooney calls for limited government, lower taxes and lower spending. A military veteran who only recently entered politics, Rooney says his experience will enable him to ask the right questions about troop protection, veterans' benefits and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. He is part of the Rooney family that owns the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Suzanne Kosmas (D-24) defeated Rep. Tom Feeney (R), who was connected with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In his eight years in the state House, Kosmas became known as a moderate who worked with Republicans on education, children's issues and balancing budgets. Kosmas supports pay-as-you-go budget rules and has said she will work to "rein in wasteful spending and ensure accountability."

IDAHO

Walt Minnick (D-1) defeated Rep. Bill Sali (R). Until his 1996 campaign for Senate, Minnick was a Republican. As a young lawyer, he served in the Nixon White House, where he was involved in the creation of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

ILLINOIS

Debbie Halvorson (D-11) succeeds retiring Rep. Jerry Weller (R). Halvorson, who served 10 years in state senate and has been majority leader since 2005, hails from a Republican-leaning district and describes herself as a fiscal conservative and supporter of gun rights. Priorities include energy issues and tax reform.

Aaron Schock (R-18) succeeds Ray LaHood (R), who retired. Schock considers himself a traditional conservative who is accustomed to being in the minority, most recently as a state lawmaker. Schock says he will focus on issues important to central Illinois, including agriculture and transportation. He will be the youngest member of the 111th Congress at 27 years old.

KANSAS

Lynn Jenkins (R-2) defeated freshman Rep. Nancy Boyda (D). Jenkins has served in the state legislature and executive branch since 1999. A former certified public accountant and current state treasurer, Jenkins says she will push in Washington for the issues that first drove her into politics: cutting taxes and curbing government spending.

KENTUCKY

Brett Guthrie (R-2) succeeds retiring Rep. Ron Lewis (R). Guthrie, a pro-life, pro-gun-rights, three-term state senator, will be a reliably conservative voice in his party's conference. An Army veteran and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Guthrie plans to introduce legislation to continue health benefits to families of active-duty soldiers killed in action.

LOUISIANA

Bill Cassidy (R-6) defeated freshman Rep. Don Cazayoux (D). An LSU-trained physician, Cassidy believes that any solution to the health care crisis must address access, cost and quality. He advocates portable insurance, more competition among insurers, and the establishment of insurance pools to expand choices for consumers. In the state Senate, Cassidy sponsored laws on issues including health care, retirement, taxes, and education. In the days following Hurricane Katrina, he led a group of volunteers to convert an abandoned building into a makeshift field hospital where several hundred evacuees were treated.

MAINE

Chellie Pingree (D-1) succeeds Rep. Tom Allen (D), who ran unsuccessfully for Senate. Pingree has been involved in state-level government and politics for many years. She describes herself as a "liberal, proactive, practical" legislator. An early opponent of the Iraq War, Pingree is eyeing a spot on the Armed Services Committee as an opportunity to lead efforts to end the war.

MARYLAND

Frank Kratovil (D-1) defeated anesthesiologist Andy Harris (R) in this open seat. Kratovil has been the State's Attorney for Queen Anne's County since 2003 and a board member on the Mental Health Association of Maryland since 2004. He has made the economy the key issue in the campaign and has a small lead over Andy Harris (R).

MICHIGAN

Mark Schauer (D-7) defeated Rep. Tim Walberg (R). Schauer says he will focus on creating economic opportunities for Michigan. Transforming Michigan's economy, he says, depends on creating tens of thousands of green collar jobs around technologies for energy and the environment.

Gary Peters (D-9) defeated Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R). Peters' legislative priorities are likely to be as varied as his career, which includes a stint in state government, service in the military, work as an assistant vice president at Merrill Lynch, and a professorship at Central Michigan University. Peters argues that affordable health care is a right of every American, and he proposes expanding the coverage that federal lawmakers receive to the rest of the country.

MINNESOTA

Erik Paulsen (R-3) succeeds retiring Rep. Jim Ramstad (R). Paulsen argues that he is the natural successor to Ramstad, a moderate Republican who chaired Paulsen's Congressional campaign. Part of his long-term vision, Paulsen says, would be focusing on extending research and development tax credits for 10 or 20 years, not just nine months to a year, and extending the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts.

MISSISSIPPI

Gregg Harper (R-3) succeeds retiring Rep. Chip Pickering (R). Harper opposes abortion rights and supports traditional marriage, fiscally conservative policies and making English the country's official language. Harper also wants to promote research on the genetic syndrome "Fragile X," which causes mental impairment and often autism. His son has Fragile X, and Harper says advocating for parents of special-needs children is particularly significant for him.

MISSOURI

Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-9) succeeds Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R), who ran unsuccessfully for governor. A rancher and state legislator, Luetkemeyer will look to continue the conservative tax views and passion for the agriculture industry that the outgoing Hulshof has championed during his six terms in the House.

NEVADA

Dina Titus (D-3) defeated Rep. Jon Porter (R). A state legislator and college professor, Titus calls herself "an educator from a family of educators" and says she hopes to serve on the Education and Labor Committee.

NEW JERSEY

John Adler (D-3) succeeds retiring Rep. Jim Saxton (R). He supports embryonic stem cell research, abortion rights, ending the war in Iraq and other positions held by a majority of his party's members. But in the New Jersey Senate, where he currently chairs the Judiciary Committee, he has also become known for his independence. Adler says he hopes to improve life for middle-class Americans through tax cuts, an expansion of affordable health care, funding for higher education, and more support for the unemployed.

Leonard Lance (R-7) succeeds Rep. Mike Ferguson (R), who retired. With the election of Lance, his district will move from being represented by a social conservative to a more moderate Republican. The longtime state lawmaker identifies himself as an "Eisenhower Republican" and has pledged to provide an independent voice for his constituents. On the campaign trail, Lance touted his support for stem cell research, pro-choice beliefs, and environmental efforts.

NEW MEXICO

Martin Heinrich (D-1) succeeds Rep. Heather Wilson (R), who ran unsuccessfully for Senate. With a degree in engineering and a background in environmental and land-use issues, Heinrich has pledged to continue the fight to preserve New Mexico's natural resources. His urban, Albuquerque-based district boasts a strong technology industry in a state that has invested heavily in clean, renewable and alternative energy research.

Harry Teague (D-2) succeeds Rep. Steve Pearce (R), who ran unsuccessfully for Senate. Having worked in fossil fuels and with the nuclear industry, Teague says he is uniquely qualified to help Congress write energy legislation. He started in the oil fields at age 17 and later spearheaded an effort to build a uranium enrichment facility.

Ben Ray Luján (D-3) succeeds Rep. Tom Udall (D), who ran successfully for Senate. Luján entered politics in 2002 when he began a stint as deputy treasurer for the state. Two years later, he was elected to the state's Public Regulation Commission, which oversees utilities, telecommunications, motor carriers and insurance companies. By 2005, he became its chairman. He wants to take that experience to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he can advocate for more robust investment in technologies for renewable and alternative energy sources.

NEW YORK

Michael McMahon (D-13) succeeds retiring Rep. Vito Fossella (R). After representing Staten Island on the New York City Council, McMahon wants to address traffic and mass transportation issues on the federal level.

Paul Tonko (D-21) succeeds Rep. Michael McNulty (D), who retired. For 15 years, he chaired an energy committee in the New York State Assembly and later led a state agency focused on energy efficiency and affordability. Tonko supports a universal, single-payer health care system.

Dan Maffei (D-25) succeeds retiring Rep. James Walsh (R). In the mid-1990s, Maffei worked for Sen. Bill Bradley (D-NJ). In 1999, he returned to the Hill as a staffer on the House Ways and Means Committee for current Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY).

Christopher Lee (R-26) succeeds retiring Rep. Tom Reynolds (R). Lee's business background as a motion control technologies company executive gives him a solid perspective on two top issues for his constituents: job creation and taxes. He does not have any previous political experience.

NORTH CAROLINA

Larry Kissell (D-8) defeated Rep. Robin Hayes (R). Kissell worked in textile mills for 27 years, mostly in management, before leaving in 2001 to become a social studies teacher. Soon after he made the career switch, his former employer shut down, shedding 800 jobs. He blames current trade policies for such job losses in North Carolina.

OHIO

Steve Driehaus (D-1) defeated Rep. Steve Chabot (R). As a state legislator for the past eight years, he concentrated on housing issues. His district includes older urban and suburban areas, which have battled both sprawl and a wave of foreclosures that he has linked to weak regulation of the subprime lending market.

Steve Austria (R-7) succeeds retiring Rep. Dave Hobson (R). Austria, a veteran of nine years in the Ohio legislature, looks to fill not only the seat but also the role of the retiring Hobson: a conservative who could reach out to Republican moderates and even to Democrats to get things done.

Marcia Fudge (D-11) succeeds Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D), who died this past summer. In Congress, Fudge wants to focus on creating jobs and improving health care in the district, which includes inner-city Cleveland and nearby East Cleveland. She wants to serve on the Financial Services or Energy and Commerce panels. Fudge, who has served most of her career in the public sector, was credited with helping to spur an economic revival in Warrensville Heights, Ohio, where she has been mayor for the past eight years.

John Boccieri (D-16) succeeds retiring Rep. Ralph Regula (R). Boccieri, a military veteran and state legislator, has pledged to work in Congress to close "loopholes" that give companies incentives to move abroad and refocus trade policies to give more incentives to companies willing to invest in American workers. As for health care, Boccieri supports more preventive care, portable coverage, and ending discrimination based on pre-existing conditions.

OREGON

Kurt Schrader (D-5) succeeds Rep. Darlene Hooley (D), who retired. Although Schrader, a veterinarian and farmer, has spent decades working with sick animals, he lists strengthening prescription drug coverage and increasing health care funding for children among his legislative priorities. He is aiming for a seat on the Energy and Commerce panel.

PENNSYLVANIA

Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3) defeated Rep. Phil English (R). Dahlkemper may have never held public office before, but she says the 26 years she has spent working in the health field and 11 years as a small-business owner more than qualify her to address several issues.

Glenn Thompson (R-5) succeeds retiring Rep. John Peterson (R). A former health services manager and rehabilitation therapist, Thompson says he has reached a stage in his career where the House floor will be a more powerful place for improving health care than the hospital floor. Thompson believes government-backed universal coverage would undermine what is working in America's health system and should be voted down.

TENNESSEE

Phil Roe (R-1) defeated Rob Russell (D) after defeating Rep. David Davis (R) in the primary. Roe retired after practicing medicine for 31 years. He says he wants to draw attention to risks such as obesity and smoking and improve health care access without adding government paperwork or rules. Given his medical background — and the fact his district houses drug manufacturers and a major medical hub at East Tennessee State University — he could seek a seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

TEXAS

Pete Olson (R-22) defeated Rep. Nick Lampson (D). Olson plans to follow the tradition of his former bosses, Texas Sens. Phil Gramm (R) and John Cornyn (R), for whom he worked as an aide. Olson's specialty is defense policy, which he learned as an aide to the Senators. He will be seeking a seat on the Armed Services Committee.

UTAH

Jason Chaffetz (R-3) defeated Bennion Spencer (D) after defeating Rep. Chris Cannon (R) in the primary. Chaffetz's top committee choice is Homeland Security. He has an interest in immigration, and many companies in the 3rd District deal with homeland security. Also, he worked on Jon Huntsman's successful gubernatorial run in 2004 and was named chief of staff.

VIRGINIA

Glenn Nye (D-2) defeated Rep. Thelma Drake (R). A former Foreign Service officer who later worked with the U.S. Agency for International Development, Nye has served in Kosovo, the West Bank, Afghanistan and most recently Iraq, where he worked for nine months in 2006 on a USAID program to help employ Iraqis.

Gerald Connolly (D-11) succeeds retiring Rep. Tom Davis (R). Connolly, a government relations executive and former congressional aide, calls himself a "radical pragmatist" who learned to compromise during his time in local government. Given Connolly's time as a leader in traffic-choked Northern Virginia, transportation is one of his major interests.

WYOMING

Cynthia Lummis (R-At Large) succeeds retiring Rep. Barbara Cubin (R). Lummis says she is a strong proponent of states' rights, particularly given her state legislative experience which dates back to 1979.

PUERTO RICO

Pedro Pierluisi (D-At Large) succeeds Del. Luis Fortuño (R), who ran for governor. Pierluisi graduated from George Washington University's law school and served as an aide to former resident commissioner, Baltasar Corrada del Rio during the 1980s. Pierlusi touts a good working relationship with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

UNDECIDED HOUSE RACES

ALASKA - At Large

Ethan Berkowitz (D) has served 10 years in the state legislature. He first came to Alaska in 1990 after getting his law degree from Hastings College. He served as a law clerk for the Alaska Court of Appeals. Although the race has yet to be called due to the counting of absentee ballots, Rep. Don Young (R) has nearly a 17,000-vote lead.

CALIFORNIA - District 4

In his nearly 22 years in the state legislature, Tom McClintock (R) has consistently advocated for conservative state fiscal policy, privatization, government reform, and governmental streamlining. He has a slim lead over Charlie Brown (D).

A 26-year Air Force veteran, Charlie Brown has most recently been involved in local law enforcement and has held an elected position with the police association. In his community, he has advocated for veterans' rights, seniors, middle class families, and the environment.

LOUISIANA

Due to a hurricane in early September, party primaries for Congressional Districts 2 and 4 were postponed until Nov. 4. The winners of those primaries will face off in a Dec. 6 election.

District 2

Incumbent Rep. William Jefferson (D) is running against political newcomer Anh "Joseph" Cao (R). Cao is an attorney and community activist whose family moved to the United States from Vietnam after the fall of Saigon in 1975. He cites his charity work on behalf of Vietnamese immigrants, his involvement in local politics, and his experience of rebuilding his home and profession in the wake of Hurricane Katrina as the key aspects of his experience. Green Party candidate Malik Rahim, Libertarian Party candidate Gregory Kahn, and Independent Jerry Jacobs will also be on the ballot, but many expect Jefferson to win handily in spite of his legal troubles.

District 4

Paul Carmouche (D) has served as Caddo Parish District Attorney for nearly 30 years. He has also practiced law in private practice, served as an Assistant District Attorney, and as Chief Counsel for the Caddo Indigent Defender's Office. Carmouche is running on his law enforcement credentials and experience. Carmouche faces John Fleming (R), a physician in family practice for nearly 30 years. Fleming served on Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal's transition team and sat on the governor's advisory council on social services, providing council on health care issues. The District 4 seat was held by retiring Rep. Jim McCrery (R).

OHIO - District 15

Steve Stivers (R) has served for more than 23 years in the Ohio Army National Guard and is a lieutenant colonel. He served for nearly a year overseas in Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and Djibouti. Stivers worked in the banking industry for Bank One and was a staff member in the Ohio legislature for five years before being elected to the state Senate in 2002. He has a very slim lead over Mary Jo Kilroy (D).

Mary Jo Kilroy has been a private practice attorney since 1980. Since 1991, she has served in numerous elected positions at the local level.

NEW YORK – District 29

According to media outlets, Eric Massa (D) defeated Rep. Randy Kuhl (R). However, with thousands of absentee ballots left to count, Kuhl is not conceding, and Massa has not declared victory. Massa, a retired Navy man, a former Republican and a former adviser to retired Gen. Wesley Clark, has a strong background in military policy and foreign affairs. He served on the staff of the House Armed Services Committee in the run-up to the Iraq War. He wrote reports critical of the Bush administration's Iraq decisions before leaving the committee.

VIRGINIA - District 5

Tom Perriello (D) was born and raised in Ivy, Va., just outside Charlottesville. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from Yale University. This is his first run for political office. Perriello is trailing incumbent Rep. Virgil Goode (R) by less than 100 votes.

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