Crimson on the Hill

The Republicans may have swept Capitol Hill in the November elections, but the Democrats remain firmly in control of Harvard's contingent of...

The Republicans may have swept Capitol Hill in the November elections, but the Democrats remain firmly in control of Harvard's contingent of alumni representatives and senators: 27 (plus one Independent) to 14. Overall, Harvard alumni (defined for this exercise as graduates of or matriculants in a degree program) raised their stake on the Hill from 40 members in the 107th Congress to 42 members in the 108th.

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Nancy L. Johnson
Nancy L. Johnson Campaign Office
JHJ-congress.maloney
James H. Maloney
James H. Maloney Campaign Office

In one of the more bizarre Crimson-tinted congressional races of recent years, Nancy L. Johnson '57 (R-Conn.) and James H. Maloney '70 (D-Conn.) found themselves facing each other in Connecticut's new Fifth District after that state lost a representative in the redistricting following the 2000 census. The battle for the Fifth quickly became the toughest race in the state—and one of the five most expensive in the entire country—as the two campaigned in unfamiliar territory and engaged in extensive negative advertising. In the end, Johnson beat Maloney 54 percent to 43 percent.

Two alumni did not run for reelection: Representative J. Stephen Horn, M.P.A. '55 (R.-Calif.), and Senator Robert G. Torricelli, M.P.A. '81 (D.-N.J.), who stepped down in mid campaign. Representative John E. Sununu, M.B.A. '91, Republican of New Hampshire, won promotion to the Senate, where he was joined by legislative-branch newcomer Elizabeth Dole, M.A. '60, J.D. '65, Republican of North Carolina. Four alumni joined the House, including Katherine Harris, M.P.A. '97, Republican of Florida. The new lineup follows (asterisks mark newcomers).

SENATE REPUBLICANS: Michael D. Crapo, J.D. '77 (Id.); *Elizabeth Dole, M.A. '60, J.D. '65 (N.C.); William H. Frist, M.D. '78 (Tenn.); Ted Stevens, LL.B. '50 (Alaska); *John E. Sununu, M.B.A. '91 (N.H.).

SENATE DEMOCRATS: Jeff Bingaman '65 (N.M.); Russ Feingold, J.D. '79 (Wisc.); Bob Graham, LL.B. '62 (Fla.); Edward M. Kennedy '54 (Mass.); Herbert H. Kohl, M.B.A. '58 (Wisc.); Carl Levin, LL.B. '59 (Mich.); John F. (Jack) Reed, M.P.P. '73, J.D. '82 (R.I.); John D. Rockefeller IV '58 (W.V.); Paul S. Sarbanes, J.D. '60 (Md.); Charles E. Schumer '71, J.D. '74 (N.Y.).

SENATE INDEPENDENTS: James M. Jeffords, LL.B. '62 (Vt.).

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HOUSE REPUBLICANS: Douglas K. Bereuter, M.C.P. '66, M.P.A. '73 (Neb.); C. Christopher Cox, M.B.A. '75, J.D. '77 (Calif.); *Katherine Harris, M.P.A. '97 (Fla.); Amory Houghton Jr. '50, M.B.A. '52 (N.Y.); Nancy L. Johnson '57 (Conn.); Thomas E. Petri '62, LL.B. '65 (Wisc.); Robert R. Simmons, G '73, M.P.A. '79 (Conn.); Patrick J. Toomey, '84 (Penn.); David Vitter '83 (La).

Katherine Harris
Katherine Harris Campaign Office
jhj-congress-lynch HOUSE DEMOCRATS: Thomas H. Allen, J.D. '74 (Maine); *James H. Cooper, J.D. '80 (Tenn.); *Artur Davis '90, J.D. '93 (Ala.); Chet Edwards, M.B.A. '81 (Tex.); Barney Frank '61, G '62-'68, J.D. '77 (Mass.); Jane Harman, J.D. '69 (Calif.); William J. Jefferson, J.D. '72 (La.); Ron Kind '85 (Wisc.); James R. Langevin, M.P.A. '94 (R.I.); Sander M. Levin, LL.B. '57 (Mich.); *Stephen F. Lynch, M.P.A. '99 (Mass., first elected 2001); James D. Matheson '82 (Utah); Adam B. Schiff, J.D. '85 (Calif.); Robert C. Scott '69 (Va.); Bradley J. Sherman, J.D. '79 (Calif.); *Christopher Van Hollen Jr., M.P.P. '85 (Md.); David Wu, M '81 (Ore.). JHJ-congress.jim.cooper
Stephen F. Lynch James H. Cooper
Stephen F. Lynch Campaign Office James H. Cooper Campaign Office
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Artur Davis
Artur Davis Campaign Office

 

The roster above omits legislators who have taught at the University or participated in Harvard programs, but have not enrolled for a degree—such as former Kennedy School professor and Republican presidential candidate Lamar Alexander, who won a Senate seat from Tennessee.        

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