109^th Congress - 11.03.2004

The New 109^th Congress


Washington Post: New Senators and Representatives
JTA: A Jewish Profile of the 109^th Congress
JTA: Jewish Members of the 109^th Congress

Senate 

Republicans will hold 55 Senate seats to the Democrats' 44 seats, up four from its current 51-48 margin.  Independent Jim Jeffords (VT) leans Democratic.


House

Republicans gained two seats, bringing their majority to 231 seats. With two seats still undecided in Louisiana, Democrats so far control 202 seats in the 109th Congress.

Notably:
Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Phil Crane (R-IL) lost to newcomer Democrat Melissa Bean.  The Trade Subcommittee has jurisdiction over questions regarding lifting Jackson-Vanik restrictions 

Jewish incumbent Rep. Martin Frost (D-TX), the state delegation’s senior Member, lost to incumbent Rep. Pete Sessions, in a newly-redrawn Dallas-Fort Worth-area district.

Jewish Democrat Allyson Schwartz defeated Republican challenger Melissa Brown for the Philadelphia-area seat held by retiring Rep. Joe Hoeffel (D-PA).

Jewish Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz easily won her race to replace her mentor, Rep. Peter Deutsch (D-FL), who lost his U.S. Senate bid in the primary.

- Compiled from wire reports