Newly elected Democrats are gearing up to take their seats after the party swept up a House majority in the midterm elections, meaning fresh lawmakers are moving to caucus and making clear where they stand on the ideological spectrum.The House Democrats have four main caucuses: the Progressive Caucus, the New Democrat Coalition, the Blue Dog Coalition, and the Problem Solvers Caucus. The factions range from centrist to left-wing and focus on a range of policy areas including business, climate, and compromise.While some House races across the country have yet to be determined, Democrats have already secured enough seats to hold a majority in the lower chamber. Overall, the party is projected to hold between 251 and 268 seats, according to multiple analyses. Here is how the caucuses are looking after the blue wave:Progressive Caucus The Progressive Caucus is expected to have approximately 106 members, a net increase from its 100 members in the 119th Congress, some of whom are retiring this January. The caucus focuses on policies that “prioritize working Americans over corporate interests,” including immigration reform, fair trade, universal healthcare, and climate action.Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) is the chairman of the caucus, and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is the deputy chair. The group has several vice chairs, including outspoken progressives Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is also on the executive board.Democrats on the left end of the political spectrum notched several wins Tuesday night, including members of the Democratic Socialists of America who were endorsed by the caucus.TRUMP’S WINDOW FOR JUDICIAL NOMINATION NARROWS AFTER DEMOCRATS RETAKE SENATEThe six newly elected lawmakers who are card-carrying DSA members and likely to join the caucus are: Reps.-elect Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez in New York; Melat Kiros in Colorado; Angela Gonzales-Torres in California; Donavan McKinney in Michigan; and Chris Rabb in Pennsylvania.The Progressive Caucus spans both chambers of Congress, having Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) as its lone Senate member. Others who were recently elected to the upper chamber could soon join the caucus. Sen.-elect Abdul el Sayed (D-MI), who was endorsed by Sanders, ran a progressive campaign where el Sayed anchored Medicare for all as a cornerstone of his policy agenda and will likely join the caucus.New Democrat Coalition The New Democratic Coalition makes up the Democratic Party’s centrist flank, and is the party’s largest caucus in the lower chamber with 114 current members. It is expected to see the largest increase in the new Congress, as it will gain roughly 39 members, 30 of which are seats that flipped in the midterms.Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) serves as chairman of the coalition, and lawmakers from California, New York, and Illinois make up the largest bloc of the membership.Of the new members, several are replacing representatives who retired or left their seats to run for Senate. Reps. Raja Krishnamoothi (D-IL), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Angie Craig (D-MN), and Chris Pappas (D-NH) are all members leaving the House, and their replacements are likely to join the caucus.The caucus endorsed several members who secured wins Tuesday night, including Rep.-elect J.D. Ford (D-IN), who ousted Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN), and Rep.-elect Nancy Lacore (D-SC), who won the seat vacated by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC).The coalition focuses on working across the aisle to move policies “from ensuring every American has access to quality health care to increasing affordable housing in every community.”Blue Dog Coalition The Blue Dog Coalition is one of the smaller caucuses in the 119th Congress, with about 10 members in its ranks. Membership is expected to increase by roughly 14 members, with only one of its current members leaving, Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME).The group is chaired by Reps. Marie Glusenkamp Perez (D-WA), Vincente Gonzalez (D-TX), and Lou Correra (D-CA).Several candidates endorsed by the caucus are set to join once sworn in, including Rep.-elect Brian Poindexter (D-OH), who ousted Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), and Rep.-elect Zach Dembo (D-KY), who flipped the seat vacated by Sen.-elect Andy Barr (R-KY) in deep-red Kentucky.The caucus is made up of “fiscally-responsible Democrats” who work on forging economically sound policies and focus on national security. They promise an agenda “to produce pragmatic, commonsense solutions that move our country forward and address the needs of every community, from rural and tribal communities to metropolitan areas.”Problem Solvers Caucus The Problem Solvers Caucus has a bipartisan makeup of 49 members, 22 of which are Democrats. Of the Democrats who are members, four will not return to Congress.WHERE DEMOCRATS COULD USE THEIR LANDSLIDE VICTORIES TO REDISTRICTDue to the group’s cross-party makeup, it did not extend endorsements in the midterm elections. However, Democrats held on to 16 seats while Republicans lost 12 seats. The GOP could lose four additional caucus members.The caucus focuses on bipartisan solutions to move legislation across the finish line. The organization describes its work as striving to “build bridges, put country first, and be part of the governing solution, not to drive wedges or further partisan bickering.”
Here’s the caucus breakdown of the Democrats’ new House majority
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