List of new members of the 96th United States Congress explained

The 96th United States Congress began on January 3, 1979. There were 12 new senators (seven Democrats, five Republicans) and 77 new representatives (42 Democrats, 34 Republicans, one Conservative), as well as one new delegate (a Republican), at the start of the first session. Additionally, four senators (one Democrat, three Republicans) and seven representatives (four Democrats, three Republicans) took office on various dates in order to fill vacancies during the 96th Congress before it ended on January 3, 1981.

Senate

Took office January 3, 1979

State	Image	Senator	Seniority	Switched party	Prior background	Birth year	Ref
Alabama			(D)	(98th overall)	No	Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama U.S. Marine Corps Major	1921	^[1]
Arkansas			(D)	(89th overall)	No	Governor of Arkansas U.S. House of Representatives Arkansas House of Representatives	1934	^[2]
Colorado			(R)	(92nd overall)	Yes	U.S. House of Representatives President of the Colorado Senate Colorado House of Representatives Colorado Army National Guard	1937	^[3]
Iowa			(R)	(99th overall)	Yes	Lieutenant Governor of Iowa Iowa Senate Scott County Commission U.S. Army Reserve Captain	1928	^[4]
Maine			(R)	(90th overall)	Yes	U.S. House of Representatives Mayor of Bangor	1940	^[5]
Massachusetts			(D)	(91st overall)	Yes	U.S. House of Representatives Middlesex County Commission Lowell City Council	1941	^[6]
Michigan			(D)	(96th overall)	Yes	President of the Detroit City Council	1934	^[7]
Nebraska			(D)	(95th overall)	Yes	Governor of Nebraska U.S. Army Signal Corps	1921	^[8]
New Hampshire			(R)	(100th overall)	Yes	Professional pilot U.S. Air Force	1940	^[9]
New Jersey			(D)	(97th overall)	Yes	Professional basketball player Air Force Reserve Command	1943	^[10]
Oklahoma			(D)	(94th overall)	Yes	Governor of Oklahoma Oklahoma House of Representatives Oklahoma Army National Guard	1941	^[11]
South Dakota			(R)	(93rd overall)	Yes	U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Army First Lieutenant	1942	^[12]

Took office during the 96th Congress

State	Image	Senator	Took office	Switched party	Prior background	Birth year	Ref
Maine			(D)		No	U.S. District Court Judge for Maine U.S. Attorney for Maine	1933	^[13]
New Hampshire			(R)		Yes	Attorney General of New Hampshire	1930	^[14]
Florida			(R)		Yes	Florida Public Service Commission Vice President of Air Florida	1927	^[15]
Alabama			(R)		Yes	U.S. Navy Rear Admiral	1924	^[16]

House of Representatives

Took office January 3, 1979

District	Representative	Switched party	Prior background	Birth year	Ref
		(D)	No	State Senator	1934	^[17]
		(R)	Yes	Prosecutor	1935	^[18]
		(D)	No	Prosecutor	1938	^[19]
		(D)	No	City Councillor	1941	^[20]
		(D)	No	State Assemblyman	1942	^[21]
		(R)	Yes	County Supervisor	1934	^[22]
		(D)	No	Congressional staffer	1942	^[23]
		(R)	Yes	U.S. DHHS official	1941	^[24]
		(R)	No	State Assemblyman	1941	^[25]
		(D)	No	State Assemblyman	1934	^[26]
		(R)	No	Mayor of La Mirada	1923	^[27]
		(R)	Yes	Lawyer	1946	^[28]
		(R)	No	State Assemblyman	1934	^[29]
		(R)	No	State Assemblyman	1929	^[30]
		(D)	No	State Senator	1941	^[31]
		(R)	No	State Representative	1942	^[32]
		(D)	Yes	State House Speaker	1934	^[33]
		(D)	No	State Representative	1926	^[34]
		(D)	Yes	State Representative	1942	^[35]
		(D)	No	Chief of staff	1944	^[36]
		(D)	Yes	County Sheriff	1910	^[37]
		(R)	Yes	Professor	1943	^[38]
		(D)	No	City Councillor	1912	^[39]
		(R)	Yes	Dentist	1936	^[40]
		(R)	Yes	State Representative	1942	^[41]
		(R)	Yes	State Representative	1950	^[42]
		(R)	Yes	Corporate director	1925	^[43]
		(R)	No	State Representative	1939	^[44]
		(R)	Yes	State Senator	1933	^[45]
		(D)	No	State Representative	1934	^[46]
		(R)	No	State Senator	1947	^[47]
		(D)	No	Political organizer	1932	^[48]
		(D)	Yes	Public Service Commissioner	1943	^[49]
		(D)	No	Congressional aide	1952	^[50]
		(D)	No	Mayor of Peabody	1929	^[51]
		(D)	No	State Representative	1946	^[52]
		(D)	Yes	State Representative	1939	^[53]
		(D)	Yes	State Representative	1925	^[54]
		(R)	No	State Senator	1932	^[55]
		(R)	No	Minnesota Secretary of State	1931	^[56]
		(DFL)	No	State House Speaker	1938	^[57]
		(R)	No	Congressional aide	1942	^[58]
		(D)	No	State Representative	1937	^[59]
		(R)	No	State Senator	1939	^[60]
		(R)	Yes	Lawyer	1941	^[61]
		(D)	No	State Senator	1924	^[62]
		(C)	Yes	County Legislator	1942	^[63]
		(D)	No	Lawyer	1935	^[64]
		(D)	Yes	U.S. Representative	1921	^[65]
		(R)	Yes	State Assemblyman	1930	^[66]
		(R)	No	State Assemblyman	1933	^[67]
		(D)	Yes	State Senator	1942	^[68]
		(R)	Yes	County Commissioner	1942	^[69]
		(D)	No	Real estate broker	1950	^[70]
		(D)	No	Minister	1941	^[71]
		(R)	Yes	State Senator	1937	^[72]
		(R)	Yes	Metallurgical engineer	1940	^[73]
		(D)	No	Lawyer	1945	^[74]
		(R)	Yes	Lawyer	1929	^[75]
		(D)	Yes	County Commissioner	1927	^[76]
		(R)	Yes	State Senator	1940	^[77]
		(D)	No	Congressional aide	1947	^[78]
		(D)	No	State Senator	1945	^[79]
		(D)	No	Professor	1942	^[80]
		(D)	No	Businessman	1931	^[81]
		(D)	No	State Representative	1941	^[82]
		(D)	No	Business executive	1938	^[83]
		(D)	No	State Representative	1944	^[84]
		(D)	No	State Senator	1942	^[85]
		(R)	Yes	Assistant to President Gerald Ford	1946	^[86]
		(R)	Yes	U.S. Representative	1935	^[87]
		(D)	No	Lawyer	1942	^[88]
		(D)	No	Broadcaster	1935	^[89]
		(D)	Yes	County Councilor	1939	^[90]
		(R)	Yes	State Assemblyman	1938	^[91]
		(R)	No	State Senator	1943	^[92]
		(R)	Yes	White House Chief of Staff	1941	^[93]

Non-voting members

Took office during the 96th Congress

District	Representative	Took office	Switched party	Prior background	Birth year	Ref
		(R)		Yes	County Supervisor	1920	^[95]
		(R)		No	State Senator	1940	^[96]
		(R)		Yes	State Representative	1935	^[97]
		(D)		No	State Representative	1929	^[98]
		(D)		Yes	State Representative	1943	^[99]
		(D)		No	Mayor of Charleston	1935	^[100]
		(D)		No	Jurist	1909	^[101]

See also

• List of United States senators in the 96th Congress
• List of members of the United States House of Representatives in the 96th Congress by seniority

Notes and References

1. Web site: HEFLIN, Howell Thomas . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
2. Web site: PRYOR, David Hampton . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
3. Web site: ARMSTRONG, William Lester . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
4. Web site: JEPSEN, Roger William . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
5. Web site: COHEN, William Sebastian . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
6. Web site: TSONGAS, Paul Efthemios . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
7. Web site: LEVIN, Carl . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
8. Web site: EXON, J. James . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
9. Web site: HUMPHREY, Gordon John . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
10. Web site: BRADLEY, William Warren (Bill) . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
11. Web site: BOREN, David Lyle . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
12. Web site: PRESSLER, Larry Lee . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
13. Web site: MITCHELL, George John . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
14. Web site: MITCHELL, George John . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
15. Web site: HAWKINS, Paula . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
16. Web site: DENTON, Jeremiah Andrew, Jr. . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
17. Web site: SHELBY, Richard C. . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
18. Web site: BETHUNE, Edwin Ruthvin, Jr. . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
19. Web site: ANTHONY, Beryl Franklin, Jr. . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
20. Web site: MATSUI, Robert T. . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
21. Web site: FAZIO, Victor Herbert, Jr. . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
22. Web site: SHUMWAY, Norman David . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
23. Web site: COELHO, Tony . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
24. Web site: PASHAYAN, Charles, Jr. . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
25. Web site: THOMAS, William Marshall . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
26. Web site: DIXON, Julian Carey . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
27. Web site: GRISHAM, Wayne Richard . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
28. Web site: LUNGREN, Daniel Edward . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
29. Web site: LEWIS, Charles Jeremy (Jerry) . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
30. Web site: DANNEMEYER, William Edwin . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
31. Web site: KOGOVSEK, Raymond Peter . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
32. Web site: KRAMER, Kenneth Bentley . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
33. Web site: RATCHFORD, William Richard . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
34. Web site: HUTTO, Earl Dewitt . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
35. Web site: NELSON, Clarence William (Bill) . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
36. Web site: MICA, Daniel Andrew . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
37. Web site: STACK, Edward John . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
38. Web site: GINGRICH, Newton Leroy . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
39. Web site: STEWART, Bennett McVey . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
40. Web site: CRANE, Daniel Bever . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
41. Web site: DECKARD, Huey Joel . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
42. Web site: TAUKE, Thomas Joseph . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
43. Web site: JEFFRIES, James Edmund . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
44. Web site: WHITTAKER, Robert Russell . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
45. Web site: HOPKINS, Larry Jones . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
46. Web site: LEACH, Anthony Claude (Buddy), Jr. . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
47. Web site: BYRON, Beverly Barton Butcher . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
48. Web site: BYRON, Beverly Barton Butcher . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
49. Web site: SHANNON, James Michael . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
50. Web site: SHANNON, James Michael . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
51. Web site: MAVROULES, Nicholas James . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
52. Web site: WOLPE, Howard Eliot, III . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
53. Web site: WOLPE, Howard Eliot, III . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
54. Web site: ALBOSTA, Donald Joseph . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
55. Web site: DAVIS, Robert William . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
56. Web site: ERDAHL, Arlen Ingolf . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
57. Web site: SABO, Martin Olav . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
58. Web site: HINSON, Jon Clifton . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
59. Web site: WILLIAMS, John Patrick . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
60. Web site: BEREUTER, Douglas Kent . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
61. Web site: COURTER, James Andrew . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
62. Web site: GUARINI, Frank Joseph, Jr. . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
63. Web site: CARNEY, William . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
64. Web site: FERRARO, Geraldine Anne . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
65. Web site: PEYSER, Peter A. . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
66. Web site: SOLOMON, Gerald Brooks Hunt . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
67. Web site: LEE, Gary Alcide . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
68. Web site: HALL, Tony Patrick . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
69. Web site: WILLIAMS, Lyle . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
70. Web site: SYNAR, Michael Lynn . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
71. Web site: GRAY, William Herbert, III . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
72. Web site: DOUGHERTY, Charles Francis . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
73. Web site: RITTER, Donald Lawrence . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
74. Web site: BAILEY, Donald Allen . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
75. Web site: CLINGER, William Floyd, Jr. . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
76. Web site: ATKINSON, Eugene Vincent . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
77. Web site: CAMPBELL, Carroll Ashmore, Jr. . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
78. Web site: DASCHLE, Thomas Andrew . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
79. Web site: BONER, William Hill . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
80. Web site: GRAMM, William Philip (Phil) . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
81. Web site: LEATH, James Marvin . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
82. Web site: WYATT, Joseph Peyton, Jr. . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
83. Web site: STENHOLM, Charles Walter . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
84. Web site: LELAND, George Thomas (Mickey) . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
85. Web site: HANCE, Kent Ronald . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
86. Web site: LOEFFLER, Thomas Gilbert . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
87. Web site: PAUL, Ronald Ernest . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
88. Web site: SWIFT, Allan Byron . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
89. Web site: SWIFT, Allan Byron . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
90. Web site: LOWRY, Michael Edward . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
91. Web site: ROTH, Toby A. . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
92. Web site: SENSENBRENNER, Frank James, Jr. . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
93. Web site: CHENEY, Richard Bruce . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
94. Web site: EVANS, Melvin Herbert . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
95. Web site: ROYER, William Howard . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
96. Web site: PETRI, Thomas Evert . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
97. Web site: PORTER, John Edward . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
98. Web site: MUSTO, Raphael John . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
99. Web site: TAUZIN, Wilbert Joseph (Billy) . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
100. Web site: HUTCHINSON, John Guiher . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
101. Web site: CROCKETT, George William, Jr. . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .