Fewer Jewish senators, reps in new Congress

By Donald H. Harrison

Donald H. Harrison
Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO — Reports from around the country indicate that 10 Jewish senators and 20 Jewish members of the House of Representatives will serve in the next Congress.

That is approximately a ten percent decrease from 11 senators and 22 members of the House of Representatives who are currently serving in Congress.

Here is how the lineup will change:

Republican Congressman Eric Cantor, the former House Majority Leader, earlier this year was defeated in a primary election for his Virginia seat by David Brat, who went on to win the Nov. 4 general election. Cantor’s defeat had left the Congress with the prospect of no Republican Jewish officeholders. However, Lee Zeldin of Long Island, N.Y., won a House seat thereby assuring the GOP would have at least one Jewish voice in the next session of Congress.  There are no Republican Jewish senators.

In an Illinois race for the House of Representatives, freshman Democratic congressman Brad Schneider was defeated by Republican challenger Bob Dold.

Democratic Congress members Henry Waxman of California and Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania voluntarily gave up their House seats, Waxman to retire and Schwartz to run unsuccessfully in a primary election for governor of Pennsylvania.

On the Senate side, U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Michigan), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, had previously announced his planned retirement from Congress.

Only two Democratic Jewish senators faced the electorate this cycle, and both won. They were Al Franken of Minnesota and Brian Schatz of Hawaii.

Other Democratic Jewish senators are Michael Bennet of Colorado, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Barbara Boxer of California, Benjamin Cardin of Maryland, Dianne Feinstein of California, Charles Schumer of New York, and Ron Wyden of Oregon, as well as Independent Senator Bernard Sanders of Vermont.

In the House, the following Jewish Democrats won reelection: David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Steve Cohen of Tennessee, Susan Davis of (San Diego) California, Ted Deutch of Florida; Elliot Engel of New York, Lois Frankel of Florida, Alan Grayson of Florida, Steve Israel of New York, Sander Levin of Michigan, Alan Lowenthal of California, Nita Lowey of New York, Jerry Nadler of New York, Jared Polis of Colorado, Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, Adam Schiff of California, Brad Sherman of California, Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and John Yarmuth of Kentucky.

In other races, the Republican Jewish Coalition announced the following GOP Jewish candidates had won in various races across the nation: Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens, Ohio State Treasurer Josh Mandel, South Dakota State Senator Dan Lederman, Texas State Representative and House Speaker Joe Straus, Texas State Representative Craig Goldman, and Dan Schwartz, the incoming Nevada state treasurer.

In San Diego County races, Congresswoman Davis won reelected to an eighth term, and Deputy State Attorney General Brad Weinreb was elected to an open seat on the San Diego County Superior Court.
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World.  He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com