WASHINGTON — Near the cafeteria of the Rayburn House office building, right next to a dumpster, is a bleak room with a row of cubicles wistfully dubbed the “Departure Member Center.”
After every election, sitting members of Congress who retire or lose their elections are relegated to this sad division for the final weeks of their terms. At the same time, new members attend new student orientation and happily choose the paint colors, curtains, and furniture for their offices for at least the next two years.
For the National Diet Building, the transition period is a troubling time of both hope and resignation. All eyes are on the new members who rush into the hall, while those who leave are rudely sidelined on the final day.
One California congressman’s staffer called it the “worst Congressional experience.”
Even outgoing Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), who was elected California’s next senator on Nov. 6, was told he had to vacate his House office by last Wednesday.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (Dennis Stan, center) welcomes incoming Democratic senators to his office on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 in Washington, D.C., from right, U.S. Sen.-elect Elissa Slotkin and Democratic Michigan Sen. Lisa Blunt. Rochester, DE, Sen.-elect Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Schumer, D-Calif., Sen. Angela, Md. Allsbrooks, D-Ariz., Sen.-elect Ruben Gallego, D.J., Sen. Andy Kim, D.N.
(Mariam Zuhaib/Associated Press)
“When I walked back to take a staff photo in the House office, my name had already been taken off the wall,” he said. “So there was a blank space on the wall. I was like, ‘Oh my god, they stole my name!’
Like most people, he was not at all impressed with the temporary bargains offered at the Retired Members Center. He has a separate office in the basement, which he said is “absolutely luxurious” by comparison.
Fortunately for Schiff, he will be taking over the space from outgoing Sen. LaFonza Butler and his team when they retire next month.
Incoming members of the House of Representatives gathered at the Capitol early Thursday for the 119th Congressional Secretariat Drawing, a tradition that began in the 60th Congress in 1908.
Members were called at random and approached a polished wooden box containing numbered chips that determined the order in which available office suites were selected. The person with the lowest number is chosen first.
It was a competitive moment at the end of a whirlwind two-week orientation, but it was also a high-stakes gamble. It determined whether employees would work in spacious suites with views of the National Mall from their windows and a short walk to the Capitol, or be stuck in a far more impressive and less convenient location.
Incoming Congressman Craig Goldman (R-Texas) is leading the charge. He scored 48 points.
“Oh, that hurts!” incoming Congressman Sam Liccardo (D-San Jose) jokingly jeered from the sidelines. “Enjoy your basement!”
Congressman-elect Sam Liccardo (D-San Jose) speaks after a press conference introducing the newly elected members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in Washington, Nov. 15.
(Mariam Zuhaib/Associated Press)
The members cheered in unison when one of their colleagues drew a low number, and groaned when they drew a high number.
Incoming Congresswoman Luz Rivas (D-North Hollywood) walked up to the lottery box, pumping her fist and making the sign of the cross. She scored 43 points.
Incoming Congresswoman Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) posted a selfie with Rivas on X as the process unfolded, calling it “the equivalent of a Capitol sports event.” .
When Mr. Ricardo’s turn came, he waved his arms. Ricardo later said he was told by veteran lawmakers that there was a tradition of dancing to pray for good luck. But he looked down at his chips and grimaced: 47.
“I did better in the election,” he said.
Incoming Congresswoman Latefa Simon (D-Richmond) attended but did not participate in the drawing. She said she has submitted a petition to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) asking for an accessible office to meet the needs of people with disabilities. On Wednesday, Mr Johnson approved her request and gave her an office on the ground floor of the Longworth House office building.
“I’m a disability advocate and I’m the only disabled person in my class and I ran on that basis,” said Simon, who was legally blind from birth. “What a great way to begin my process here on Capitol Hill and say to the disability community…your needs will be met.”
Candidates in races that have not yet been called will not be eligible to participate in the draw. In California, the two races are still not too far apart to call. Rep. John Duarte (R-Modesto), who is running against Democrat Adam Gray, had just a 210-vote lead as of Friday afternoon. Democrat Derek Tran defeated incumbent Rep. Michelle Steele (R-Seal Beach) by 480 votes.
Mr. Duarte’s spokesman, Duane DiChiara, said it was strange that the timing of an election in California did not coincide with the periodic disruptions in Congress.
Congresswoman Nanette Díaz Barragan (D-San Pedro), chair of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus, will introduce the newly elected caucus.
(Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press)
“The way to deal with that would be to have California count the ballots within a reasonable period of time,” he said. “It should be integrated with the actual workings of Congress, not just subject to the whims of the county registrar.”
Mr. Tran attended the new member orientation, but Mr. Gray did not. In 2022, when Mr. Duarte and Mr. Gray were separated by 564 votes, both men attended orientation.
Regarding the office selection, Ricardo said Gray and Tran would take over the office if they defeated the incumbents.
“It’s actually a blessing in disguise,” he said. “We’re all so jealous of Derek Tran, because he probably has that in his bag. And he has a nice suite, too.”
Simon will represent the district currently represented by outgoing Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland). Simon said Lee’s staff had moved out of her coveted office overlooking Parliament House and were now working out of the cafe.
“That’s crazy, isn’t it?” she said. “There’s really no place for them. They have a lot of ingenuity in figuring out how to get the job done.”
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