‘They’re not asking permission to do things’: Democrats brace for robust freshman class

By Elise Viebeck and Paul Kane December 31 at 5:23 PM

There is a restiveness in Washington as a new Congress convenes this week.

Democrats will take control of the House at a time of startling upheaval in the federal government. A confrontation between President Trump and Congress over funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall has partially shut down the government for almost two weeks, with no end in sight, hinting at more conflict in the year to come.

The House’s transformation from a body consumed for eight years by Republican infighting to one dominated by Democrats will be complete as members are sworn in Thursday.

At the center of this drama is a massive class of about 100 freshmen taking the oath of office, including 63 Democrats whose victories pushed Republicans out of power in the biggest party gains since the post-Watergate election of 1974. This group has the chance to be a historic class based on its size and, more important, the unique background of many newcomers, from the military and intelligence agencies to past Democratic administrations and community activism.

“Their strength is in their unity,” said Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), who helped elect many of the freshmen as the party’s campaign chairman. “To pass legislation out of the House, you need 217 other members raising their hand with you. .?.?. The new members, 63 strong, are already a quarter of the way there, to be able to deliver those policy shifts.”

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