Frosh to Watch

They are relegated to the far wings of the committee table and occupy the worst offices on Capitol Hill. But these new members are ready to put their own stamp on Congress, and strategists say they’re worth watching...


Minnesota Rep. Erik Paulsen
A Republican state representative, Paulsen won in a district that’s just about the perfect example of an ideal Democratic takeover: suburban, well-educated and likely to give a majority of its votes to Barack Obama. Still, Paulsen pulled out a narrow victory over Democrat Ashwin Madia in November. Even though he's going to have to fend off Democrats eager to make the most of their recent suburban gains, Paulsen could play a prominent role in the GOP conference down the road.

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Ohio Rep. John Boccieri
A young, good-looking moderate who served in Iraq, Boccieri has worked across the aisle and served in party leadership in Ohio’s State House. The 39-year-old Boccieri is also a proven fundraiser. As some Democrats worry that party leadership in Congress is becoming too coastal, party leaders might look to someone like Boccieri as the next generation of Rust Belt political leadership.

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Kansas Rep. Lynn Jenkins
Ordinarily, a moderate running against a more conservative candidate in a Republican-leaning district isn't a strong bet to win. But Republican Lynn Jenkins, the Kansas state treasurer, upset ex-Rep. Jim Ryun in the primary and went on to beat Democratic Rep. Nancy Boyda in the general. In a state where Democrats only win when Republicans nominate hard-core conservatives, the choice to nominate a more moderate candidate suggests Republicans may be reaching back toward the middle. If Jenkins lives up to her potential, it may be a sign of a larger healing happening within her party.

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New Mexico Rep. Martin Heinrich
Former Albuquerque City Councilman Martin Heinrich finally accomplished what Democrats have been trying to do for a decade in taking over Rep. Heather Wilson's seat. Before even knocking off Wilson, though, Heinrich won a primary against Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White, a skilled candidate in his own right. In Congress, watch for Heinrich to represent the emerging brand of Western Democrats who have closer ties to the environmental movement than to other pillars of the Democratic coalition.

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Illinois Rep. Aaron Schock
For the first time, someone born during Ronald Reagan's administration will be able to call himself a congressman when Illinois state Sen. Aaron Schock, just 27 years old, takes the mantle of the chamber's youngest member. Ambitious is hardly an adequate way to describe Schock, who was first elected to his local school board at 20 years old and unseated a Democratic state representative at 23. Along with his ambition, though, comes Schock's legislative acumen. He passed a number of bills through the Democratic-led legislature while maintaining an adversarial relationship with Gov. Rod Blagojevich. In Congress, Schock could be a bomb-thrower or an early candidate for a leadership track.

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Nevada Rep. Dina Titus
Two years after narrowly losing a governor's race to an opponent accused of sexual harassment, Nevada state Sen. Dina Titus is instead heading to Congress, having defeated Republican Rep. Jon Porter. Titus' win was part of significant Democratic advances in the Silver State. Titus has been a major part of Democratic politics in Nevada for two decades and served for 15 years as the Democratic leader in the state Senate. And with the help of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Titus may find herself with a prominent portfolio sooner rather than later.

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Texas Rep. Pete Olson
Republican Pete Olson already knows the ropes in Congress, having served as a top staffer for Sen. Phil Gramm and as chief of staff to Gramm's successor, John Cornyn. In 2008, Olson beat Democratic Rep. Nick Lampson by a significant margin, and he'll begin his career in Congress with good relations with the rest of the powerful Republican delegation from the Lone Star State. As he rises through the ranks of the Texas delegation, Olson could become a real player.

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Alabama Rep. Bobby Bright
When Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright announced he would run for Congress as a Democrat, Republicans knew the national landscape remained as bad as it was in 2006. Bright, who will take over for GOP Rep. Terry Everett in the Southern Alabama-based Second District, narrowly beat out a Republican state representative in November for a seat that hasn't been held by a Democrat since Lyndon Johnson was president. As the House’s Blue Dog coalition sees its power and influence increase, Bright's position as a prominent member of the coalition could put him in good position to build his clout.

Reid Wilson is staff writer at the Hill newspaper.