When Gary Peters, congressman and senator-elect from Michigan, crosses Capitol Hill to attend his Senate freshman orientation this week, he will be the lone Democrat in a room of triumphant Republicans.
Four years ago, Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut was in a similar, though not quite as intimidating, situation.
Blumenthal was well aware that he was one of the few Democratic Senate hopefuls to emerge victorious in midterm elections that were dreadful for his party, he told the Loop. The excitement over his own success may be a bit tempered by his partys dramatic losses, but Blumenthal said that in politics theres always hope for the next round, when we can replenish our ranks.
He also had a leg up on his Republican peers that Peters will not: He was joining the majority party. Knowing that gave me protective armor, Blumenthal said.
But he doesnt want Peters to worry about being the odd man out. Blumenthal described his GOP classmates as extraordinarily gracious as they learned together how the Senate operates.
Everybody has the same kind of questions, like How do we know if were going to have Friday off to go home? Blumenthal said, adding that he and his future colleagues quickly learned that they dont. Theres lots of common questions and mysteries to the first few days and the first few years as Ive learned, a lot of written and unwritten rules that have to be mastered regardless of party.
Coming from the House, Peters is used to legislating (or not?) alongside Republicans.
Ive been working in the Republican-controlled House for the past few years, so I know how to build relationships with members of the other party and find bipartisan common ground, he said in an e-mail.
Being the lone member of your party in a freshman class is nearly unique. In 2006, a banner year for Democrats, Bob Corker of Tennessee was the only new Republican senator. In most years, there are at least a few newbies from each party.
President Obama can take heart that at least one Democrat made it to the Senate in each of his midterm tests. In the 1994 midterms, with Bill Clinton in the White House, every new senator elected was a Republican.
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In the Loop: Gary Peters is a Democrat who stands alone