Tuesday’s Impact On Our Jewish Democratic Delegation

Carly Lindauer — November 3, 2010 – 12:59 pm | Congress | Democrats | Election 2010 Comments (0) Add a comment

Yesterday’s election was an undoubtedly difficult one for Democrats across the country. The results have not only changed the political landscape in Washington, they have also greatly impacted the members of our Jewish Democratic congressional delegation.

Though the losses outnumbered the gains, leaving us with fewer Jewish Democratic members than before, we are pleased to welcome Connecticut Senator-Elect Richard Blumenthal and Rhode Island Representative-Elect David Cicilline to the delegation. It is interesting to note that Cicilline will make history as the third openly gay Jewish man in Congress. We look forward to working with them both in the coming weeks and months.

In the Senate, we were sorely disappointed by the stunning defeat of Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold. We also lost another Jewish Senator earlier in the election cycle when Joe Sestak defeated Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania’s primary. Counting Independent Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who caucus with the Democrats, after January there will be exactly a dozen Jewish Senators - down one from the thirteen Jewish Senators in the current 111^th Congress.

In the House, the Jewish community has lost great friends with the defeat of John Adler in New Jersey, Alan Grayson and Ron Klein in Florida, and Steve Kagen in Wisconsin. Our Jewish House numbers were already diminished when Paul Hodes decided to run for New Hampshire’s Senate seat, which he unfortunately lost. On a more positive note, we are delighted that Representative Ted Deutch (D-FL), who recently won a special election to fill Robert Wexler’s seat, scored a decisive victory in his first reelection bid. Our Jewish Democratic House delegation will number 26 in the next Congress assuming that Gabrielle Giffords holds on to her narrow lead in Arizona - down four seats from the 30 Jewish House members currently in the 111^th Congress.

In other election news, Ohio’s first Jewish State Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Brown appears to have lost his election. However, Peter Shumlin, who has discussed his Jewish heritage, is now Governor-elect of Vermont.

 

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