The Virginia Democrat had hoped to grab an office next to her closest buddies in the new Congress — a group of fellow military veterans who’ve dubbed themselves the “Gang of Nine.” But she hadn’t gotten a chance to check out the spot her colleagues had chosen and it was time to make a decision.“I had that split-second moment, like, do I choose an office I haven’t seen... or give up on your friends?” she recalled in an interview.
The creation of such alliances is a longtime tradition on Capitol Hill — a play not just for friendship, but influence. Together, these freshman lawmakers have a far better chance of bending the fractious caucus in their direction.“It is like high school — I just hope I’m better at it,” quipped Rep. Max Rose, a 32-year-old New Yorker, who was awarded a Purple Heart while serving in Afghanistan and hopes that his gang of military moderates can duplicate the success of the new stars on the left.
The Big Six — which received its nickname from Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries — might be seen as the over-achievers in the bunch, the ones likeliest to climb into leadership one day. “This is not like ‘Mean Girls,’” joked Underwood, a member of the Big Six. “There is no captain of the football team, and we’re not all trying to be homecoming queen.”These kinds of informal coalitions are hardly new to Congress, particularly for the scores of first-time candidates who make the leap to full-time politicians.
“There’s no way that I would’ve been able to have worked the last couple of weeks in the way that I’ve worked without the support of some of my freshman friends,” the New York Democrat said. “The squad, of course, those are my sisters.”
SpeakerPelosi HouseDemocrats I like them all, and their differing views reflect, enhance, and will save our country! pbsnewshour
THEY NEED TO LEARN FROM EXPERIENCED HOUSE MEMBERS
This is embarassing