'Enjoy the basement!': New members of Congress enter

WASHINGTON – Near the cafeteria of the Rayburn House Office Building, right next to the trash cans, is a collection room with rows of cubicles called the “Departing Member Center.”

After each election, sitting members of the House who retire or are racially defeated are relegated to this miserable unit in their last weeks in office. At the same time, the incoming members show familiarity with the new person who ends up choosing the paint colors, drapes and office furniture they will take for at least the next two years.

Transition time is a difficult time on Capitol Hill, filled with both anticipation and resignation. The focus is on the wide-eyed new members who fill the halls while those who leave are unlovingly sidelined in their final days.

A staffer for one member of the California House called it “the worst-time Congress experience.”

Even outgoing representative Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) – who was elected on November 6 to serve as California's next US senator – was told that he had until last Wednesday to leave his House office.

“I came back to do a portrait of the staff in my House office, and my name had been removed from the wall,” he said. “So there was this empty space in the wall. I can say, my God, they took my name!”

Like many, he was not impressed with the temporary digs offered at the center for outgoing members. He has a separate office downstairs which he describes as “absolutely luxurious” by comparison.

Fortunately, Schiff will replace Sen. Butler is leaving when he and his team leave next month.

Members of the incoming House met Thursday morning at the Capitol for the 119th congressional office lottery, a tradition that began with the 60th Congress in 1908.

Members were unexpectedly called to approach a polished wooden box containing numbered chips that determined how they would choose the available suit suite. Those with the lowest numbers will be selected first.

It was a competitive moment at the end of their two-week whirlwind stand – but also one of the highest stakes. Decide whether their employees will work in an open-plan room with window views of the National Mall and a short walk to the Capitol building, or get stuck in something less productive and more convenient.

Incumbent Craig Goldman (R-Tex.) was the first to arrive. He got 48.

“Oh, that hurts!” Selectman Sam Liccardo (D-San Jose) laughed from the sidelines. “Enjoy the basement!”

Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-San Jose) speaks after a news conference to introduce newly elected members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Nov. 15 in Washington.

(Mariam Zuhaib / Associated Press)

The members cheered in unison when one of their colleagues pulled the low number, and groaned when he pulled the high number.

Selectman Luz Rivas (D-North Hollywood) pumped her fists and made the sign of the cross as she walked up to the lottery box. He got 43.

Selectwoman Laura Friedman, (D-Glendale) posted a selfie with Rivas on X as the process unfolded, calling it “the Capitol equivalent of a sporting event.”

When it was Liccardo's turn, he did an arm wave — later saying veteran members of Congress told him there was a tradition of dancing for good luck. But he waved when he looked down at his pin: 47.

“I finished better in the election,” he said.

Incumbent Lateefah Simon (D-Richmond) was present but did not participate in the lottery. He said he submitted a request to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to have an accessible office that would meet the needs of people with disabilities. On Wednesday, Johnson accepted his request, giving him an office on the first floor of the Longworth House Office Building.

“I'm a disability advocate, I'm the only person with a disability in this class, and I ran for that,” said Simon, who was born legally blind. “What a great way to start my process here at the Capitol, I can say to the disabled community … your needs will be met.”

Candidates for races that have not yet been called could not participate in the lottery. In California, the two races remain too close to call. Rep. John Duarte (R-Modesto), who is running against Democrat Adam Gray, had a 210-vote lead Friday afternoon. Democrat Derek Tran was defeating Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Seal Beach) with 480 votes.

Duarte's spokesman, Duane Dichiara, said it was surprising that the timing of the California races and the regular session of Congress did not coincide.

Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-San Pedro), chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, introduced the newly elected members of the caucus.

(Mark Schifelbein/Associated Press)

“The way to deal with it would be to make California count their votes in a timely manner,” he said. “It has to be tied to how Congress actually works and not just what the registrar wants.”

Tran attended the orientation for new members, but Gray did not. In 2022, when Duarte and Gray were separated by 564 votes, both attended this convention.

When the office is chosen, Liccardo said that if Gray and Tran defeat the incumbents, they will take their offices.

“It's actually a blessing to hide,” he said. “We're all jealous of Derek Tran because he's probably got it in a bag – and he's got a great suit, too.”

Simon will represent the district currently represented by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), who is retiring. Lee's staff has moved out of his coveted office overlooking the Capitol and now works out of coffee shops, Simon said.

“It's crazy, isn't it?” he said. “There is really no place for them. They have a lot of creativity in trying to figure out how to get the job done.”