Crimson on the Hill

Harvard's Capitol Hill alumni (defined for this exercise as graduates of or matriculants in a degree program) will drop from 42 members in the...

Harvard's Capitol Hill alumni (defined for this exercise as graduates of or matriculants in a degree program) will drop from 42 members in the 108th Congress to 41 members in the 109th, based on the 2004 election results. That total includes 29 Democrats (up two), 11 Republicans (down three), and one Independent (unchanged).

Three alumni did not run for reelection: Republican congressmen Douglas K. Bereuter, M.C.P. '66, M.P.A. '73, of Nebraska and Amory Houghton Jr. '50, M.B.A. '52, of New York, and Democratic senator Bob Graham, LL.B. '62, of Florida, who sought the presidency. Republican Patrick J. Toomey '84 of Pennsylvania, first elected to the House in 1998, who had promised to serve only three terms, mount ed a primary challenge against fellow Republican Arlen Specter, the state's senior senator, but lost in a close vote.

Toomey's House colleague David Vitter '83, Republican of Louisiana, did win a seat in the Senate, and will be joined by Barack Obama, J.D. '91, Democrat of Illinois. In the House, Democrats will welcome newcomer John Barrow, J.D. '79, of Georgia and Brian Higgins, M.P.A. '96, of New York. The line up 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.); *David Vitter '83 (La.).

 

SENATE DEMOCRATS: Jeff Bingaman '65 (N.M.); Russ Feingold, J.D. '79 (Wisc.); Edward M. Kennedy '54 (Mass.); Herbert H. Kohl, M.B.A. '58 (Wisc.); Carl Levin, LL.B. '59 (Mich.); *Barack Obama, J.D. '91 (Ill.); 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 INDEPENDENT: James M. Jeffords, LL.B. '62 (Vt.).


 

HOUSE REPUBLICANS: C. Christopher Cox, M.B.A. '75, J.D. '77 (Calif.); Katherine Harris, M.P.A. '97 (Fla.); Nancy L. Johnson '57 (Conn.); Thomas E. Petri '62, LL.B. '65 (Wisc.); Robert R. Simmons, G '73, M.P.A. '79 (Conn.).


 

HOUSE DEMOCRATS: Thomas H. Allen, J.D. '74 (Maine); *John Barrow, J.D. '79 (Ga.); 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.); *Brian Higgins, M.P.A. '96 (N.Y.); 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.); 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.).


 

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 newly elected Republican congressman Michael McCaul of Texas, a senior executive fellow at the Kennedy School for 2002.

 

Most popular

FAS leaders say restructuring will be complete by mid-October.

Andrea Louise Campbell reviews The Unheavenly Chorus, on skewed political power

Andrea Louise Campbell reviews The Unheavenly Chorus, by Kay Lehman Schlozman, Sidney Verba, and Henry E. Brady.

Paolo Pasco and the art of making crosswords

Paolo Pasco and the art of making crosswords

Explore More From Current Issue

Colorful word cloud with various emotions and ideas related to learning and reflection.

But it can’t replace human connection.

A smiling William C. Kirby in a suit with glasses stands outdoors, surrounded by greenery.

The president of Harvard Magazine’s Board of Directors will step down in September.

Three young women posed side by side against red background.

The 2026-2027 Ledecky and Summer Undergraduate Fellows