The 118th U.S. Congress convened on Jan. 3, 2023. Following finalization of House speakership, the official swearing in took place Jan. 7, 2023. The following are some of the legislators with Lutheran affiliation who will serve the country in this new session.
In the U.S. Senate, ELCA member Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., are continuing their service. In the U.S. House of Representatives, incumbent ELCA members continuing their service includes Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, Rep. Stacey Plaskett, D-U.S. Virgin Islands and Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-Pa.
Additional Lutheran leaders in the Senate include Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo. and re-elected Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. In the House of Representatives, incumbent Lutheran leaders continuing their service include Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-Ind., Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kan., Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., Rep. Tracey Mann, R-Kan, Rep. Donald Norcross, D-N.J. and Rep. David Trone, D-Md. Rep. Sydney Kamlager, D-Calif., will be joining the House, and Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., will be returning to the House after leaving his seat to serve as Secretary of the Interior in the Trump administration from 2017-2019.
Prior to conclusion of his term, Rep. Jim Hagedorn, R-Minn., had died in office in Feb. 2022. Retiring from Congress are Lutherans Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo. and Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb.
Editor’s note: This post was first published on the ELCA Advocacy blog.
