The 115th United States Congress began on January 3, 2017. There were seven new senators (five Democrats, two Republicans) and 52 new representatives (25 Democrats, 27 Republicans), as well as one new delegate (a Republican), at the start of its first session. Additionally, five senators (two Democrats, three Republicans) and 15 representatives (six Democrats, nine Republicans) took office on various dates in order to fill vacancies during the 115th Congress before it ended on January 3, 2019.
Due to court-ordered redistricting in three states, three representatives were elected from newly established congressional districts.
The co-presidents of the House Democratic freshman class were Nanette Barragán of California, Val Demings of Florida, and Donald McEachin of Virginia, while the president of the House Republican freshman class was Jack Bergman of Michigan. Additionally, the Democratic Freshmen Leadership Representative was Colleen Hanabusa of Hawaii (who was elected during the 114th Congress), and the Republican's freshmen liaison was Paul Mitchell of Michigan.[1][2]
State | Image | Senator | Took office | Switched party | Prior background | Birth year | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | Luther Strange (R) | February 9, 2017 | No Appointed; replaced Jeff Sessions (R) |
Attorney General of Alabama | 1953 | [10] | |
Alabama | Doug Jones (D) | January 3, 2018 | Yes Replaced Luther Strange (R), who lost nomination |
U.S. Attorney for Northern Alabama Assistant U.S. Attorney |
1954 | [11] | |
Minnesota | Tina Smith (DFL) | January 3, 2018 | No Appointed; replaced Al Franken (DFL) |
Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota Chief of staff to Governor Mark Dayton Chief of staff to Mayor R. T. Rybak |
1958 | [12] | |
Mississippi | Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) | April 9, 2018 | No Appointed; replaced Thad Cochran (R) |
Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Mississippi State Senate |
1959 | [13] | |
Arizona | Jon Kyl (R) | September 5, 2018 | No Appointed; replaced John McCain (R) |
U.S. Senate[d] U.S. House of Representatives[e] |
1942 | [14] |
District | Image | Delegate | Switched party | Prior background | Birth year | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Puerto Rico at-large | Jenniffer González (NP/R) | No/Yes Open seat; replaced Pedro Pierluisi (NP/D) |
Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Chair of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico |
1976 | [67] |