The 98th United States Congress began on January 3, 1983. There were four new senators (one Democrat, three Republicans) and 79 new representatives (56 Democrats, 23 Republicans) at the start of the first session. Additionally, two senators (one Democrat, one Republican) and nine representatives (six Democrats, three Republicans) took office on various dates in order to fill vacancies during the 98th Congress before it ended on January 3, 1985.
Due to redistricting after the 1980 census, 20 representatives were elected from newly established congressional districts. One representative-elect, Jack Swigert, died before taking office.
State | Image | Senator | Seniority | Switched party | Prior background | Birth year | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
California | Pete Wilson (R) | 2nd (98th overall) |
No Open seat; replaced S. I. Hayakawa (R) |
Mayor of San Diego California State Assembly U.S. Marine Corps First Lieutenant |
1933 | [1] | |
Nevada | Chic Hecht (R) | 4th (100th overall) |
Yes Defeated Howard Cannon (D) |
Nevada Senate | 1928 | [2] | |
New Mexico | Jeff Bingaman (D) | 3rd (99th overall) |
Yes Defeated Harrison Schmitt (R) |
Attorney General of New Mexico U.S. Army Reserve |
1943 | [3] | |
Virginia | Paul Trible (R) | 1st (97th overall) |
Yes Open seat; replaced Harry F. Byrd Jr. (I) |
U.S. House of Representatives Essex County Commonwealth's Attorney |
1946 | [4] |
State | Image | Senator | Took office | Switched party | Prior background | Birth year | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington | Daniel J. Evans (R) | September 8, 1983 | Yes Appointed; replaced Henry M. Jackson (D) |
President of Evergreen State College Governor of Washington Washington House of Representatives U.S. Navy Ensign |
1925 | [5] | |
Massachusetts | John Kerry (D) | January 2, 1985 | No Open seat; replaced Paul Tsongas (D) |
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts U.S. Navy Lieutenant |
1943 | [6] |
District | Representative | Took office | Switched party | Prior background | Birth year | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Texas 6 | Phil Gramm (R) | February 12, 1983 | Yes | U.S. Representative[c] | 1942 | [86] |
New York 7 | Gary Ackerman (D) | March 1, 1983 | No | State Senator | 1942 | [87] |
Colorado 6 | Daniel Schaefer (R) | March 29, 1983 | New seat/No[d] | State Senator | 1936 | [88] |
California 5 | Sala Burton (D) | June 21, 1983 | No | Activist | 1925 | [89] |
Illinois 1 | Charles Hayes (D) | August 23, 1983 | No | Civil rights leader | 1918 | [90] |
Georgia 7 | George Darden (D) | November 8, 1983 | No | State Representative | 1943 | [91] |
Wisconsin 4 | Jerry Kleczka (D) | April 3, 1984 | No | State Senator | 1943 | [92] |
Kentucky 7 | Chris Perkins (D) | November 6, 1984 | No | State Representative | 1954 | [93] |
New Jersey 13 | Jim Saxton (R) | November 6, 1984 | No | State Senator | 1943 | [94] |