New lawmakers attend orientation for new members of the House

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Orienting new members is a tradition that allows new lawmakers, who have just won seats in Congress, to learn more about what to expect as they prepare to take office. A second orientation session will take place later this month.

Before officially starting their term, members will need to set up and organize their offices, including the hiring of staff. And they will have to learn the ropes and familiarize themselves with the functioning of the House.

However, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic looms over the direction of this year and the upcoming start of a new session of Congress.

Congresswoman-elect Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Iowa, tested positive for Covid-19, according to a statement from her office Thursday, which said she would miss the freshman orientation in person but will be there would participate virtually.

“She is feeling well and is in quarantine at her home in Marion until her doctor advises her to do otherwise,” the statement said.

Hinson defeated first-year Democratic Rep. Abby Finkenauer in Iowa’s First District in a closely watched race.

The freshman class will include an array of notable members, including Madison Cawthorn, a Republican from North Carolina who, at age 25, would become the youngest congressman in modern history, according to the archives of the United States House. Another incoming member who is making history is Ritchie Torres, a New York City Council member who won his race for the United States House to represent the South Bronx, becoming the first black member of Congress to identify himself. like gay.
Another notable dynamic in the freshman class is that Republican women in the House will have significantly expanded their ranks as a result of the election.

At least 13 non-incumbent Republican women have won their contests, according to CNN projections, a total that breaks the 2010 record of nine GOP non-incumbent women winning home races, according to data from the Center for American Women and Politics. .

It’s a big change from the 2018 mid-term when only one new Republican woman won, Carol Miller of West Virginia.

In Oklahoma, Republican Stephanie Bice took over 5th District, which Democratic Rep. Kendra Horn toppled in one of the biggest surprises of midterm 2018. In Iowa 1st District, Ashley Hinson, considered one of the party’s top recruits, defeated first-year Democratic Representative Abby Finkenauer. Yvette Herrell knocked out first-year Democratic Rep. Xochitl Torres Small in a rematch in New Mexico’s 2nd District. And in South Carolina, Republican Nancy Mace, the Citadel’s first female graduate, toppled Democratic Representative Joe Cunningham, who overthrew the Charleston area siege in 2018.
Democrats will retain control of the House during the next session of Congress, CNN has projected. But in a setback for the party, Democrats are on track to having a smaller majority after some of their incumbents lost and the challengers failed to secure the most targeted GOP seats.

As Election Day approached, Democrats were optimistic about expanding their majority. But at least seven Democrats lost their seats, including a handful of freshmen who toppled districts in 2018 that backed President Donald Trump in 2016. Meanwhile, Republicans have held firm in the suburbs where Democrats hoped to make inroads.

This story was updated with further developments on Thursday.

CNN’s Daniella Diaz, Simone Pathe, Alex Rogers and Lauren Dezenski contributed to this report.

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