The 119th U.S. Congress, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives, began a two-year term of the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government following swearing in on Jan. 3. Several legislators in this new session, both new members and continuing, have Lutheran affiliation.
In the House of Representatives, members with Lutheran affiliation who were reelected are Jack Bergman, R-Mich.; John Carter, R-Texas; Angie Craig, D-Minn.; Ron Estes, R-Kan.; Glenn Grothman, R-Wis.; Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif.; Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.; Tracey Mann, R-Kan.; Donald Norcross, D-N.J.; Scott Peters, D-Calif.; Chellie Pingree, D-Maine; Stacey Plaskett, D-U.S. Virgin Islands; Lloyd Smucker, R-Pa.; and Ryan Zinke, R-Mont. Additionally, newly elected Derek Schmidt, R-Kan., joins the House.
In the Senate, member Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., won reelection. Members Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Ron Johnson, R-Wis.; Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo.; and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., are continuing in their positions. Newly elected Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., joins the Senate.
Finally, some Lutheran-affiliated members will not be returning to Congress. This includes Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, in the Senate, and Larry Bucshon, R-Ind., and David Trone, D-Md., in the House. Another member of the 118th Congress, Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., will not be returning to Congress but took office as the 34th governor of North Dakota on Dec. 15, 2024.
“For Lutherans, one way Christian vocation finds expression is through dedicated, competent public service,” reads the ELCA social message “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy,” which includes those who run for political office. “Since the Reformation, Lutherans have recognized public service as a worthy calling—a means by which all individuals may serve the common good.”
