The most bipartisan Democrats in the House

The 118th Congress is shaping up to be one of the least productive in American history. Since Republicans won back the House of Representatives in the 2022 midterms, few meaningful bills have passed Congress. Since 2014, the non-profit Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy have released the bipartisan index that tracks cross-party cooperation across party lines. Although there was a slight increase in bipartisanship in 2023, Congress is extremely partisan.

This article will examine the House Democrats who have proven to be the most capable of getting across the aisle.

Why this matters

In an election year, American voters will determine not only the presidency, but also who controls Congress. One party can win the government trifecta, but one party is more likely to control the House, the other the Senate. If any meaningful legislation is to be passed by the 119th Congress, it will require cooperation and bipartisanship, so it is important to know who the potential makers and breakers are.

Chris Pappas

New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District

Assumed office: 2019

Bipartisan ranking: 3

Chris Pappas is the most bipartisan Democrat in the House of Representatives and the third most bipartisan member overall. He was first elected to New Hampshire’s 1st District in 2018 and won re-election in a fairly comfortably competitive district in 2020 and 2022. He joined Caucus for problem solving in 2023 and sold his bipartisan credentials in a February 2024 press release:

No political party has a monopoly on good ideas, and policies that put the needs of ordinary people first are found left and right.

Pappas faces a primary challenge in September 2024, but is expected to prevail and retain his seat in the November general election.

Don Davis

North Carolina 1st Congressional District

Assumed office: 2023

Bipartisan ranking: 5

Don Davis of North Carolina had a first term in the House of Representatives, he is sponsored or co-sponsored almost 800 banknotes. As a member of Caucus for problem solvinghis willingness to work across party lines is a source of pride. In a press release regarding his high ranking on the bipartisan index, he referenced his past military experience:

When we served our country in the US Air Force, our focus was always our mission, not our political party. These principles continue to guide me in my chosen service.

North Carolina’s controversial redistricting for 2024 means Davis may have a tougher time keeping his seat than winning it.

Susie Lee

Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District

Assumed office: 2019

Bipartisan ranking: 7

Susie Lee’s commitment to bipartisanship is evident in her leadership position in the bipartisan and moderate caucuses. She is the vice president Caucus for problem solving and co-chairman of Bipartisan Congressional Caucus Women’s Issues. She is also the Whip for The New Democratic Coalitiona centrist caucus for moderate Democrats. On her high ranking on the bipartisan index, she said:

I am proud to have been named Nevada’s most bipartisan member of Congress and one of the top ten most bipartisan lawmakers in the US House of Representatives. I will continue to work with my fellow Republicans to help Nevada families, small businesses, seniors and veterans.

Nevada is a swing state and Lee County is considered one of the more competitive places in the house.

Josh Gottheimer

New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District

Assumed office: 2017

Bipartisan ranking: 9

One of the most conservative Democrats in the House, Josh Gottheimer is the co-speaker of the House Caucus for problem solving and a member of The New Democratic Coalition and The Blue Dog Coalition. He is a vocal supporter of Israel, one of the few remaining bipartisan issues in Congress. In May 2024, he led a bipartisan effort to condemn the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue warrants against Israeli officials. He is “strongly considering” running for governor of New Jersey in 2025.

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

Washington’s 3rd Congressional District

Assumed office: 2023

Bipartisan ranking: 12

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez won an extremely competitive race for Washington’s 3rd District in 2022, flipping the Democratic seat. She is a member of Caucus for problem solving and co-chairman of The Blue Dog Coalition. A moderate, she has occasionally criticized the left flank of her party because of her pro-Second Amendment views and fiscal conservatism. She faces a difficult re-election 2024 campaign.

Jimmy Panetta

California’s 19th Congressional District

Assumed office: 2017

Bipartisan ranking: 13

Jimmy Panetta is the son of Leon Panetta, Bill Clinton’s chief of staff from 1994-97 and Barack Obama’s secretary of defense from 2011-13. Jimmy won an upset race for the 20th district in 2016 and easily won re-election in 2018 and 2020 before redistricting changed his seat to the 19th. Panetta enjoys a safe seat in a solidly blue state, so his record of bipartisanship is not motivated by political expediency.

He strongly supports Ukraine and Taiwan and visited both countries this summer. He met with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy in August and joined a bipartisan delegation to Taiwan in June.

Elissa Slotkin

Michigan’s 7th Congressional District

Assumed office: 2019

Bipartisan ranking: 14

Elissa Slotkin won a competitive race to swing Michigan’s 7th district in 2018 and won re-election twice in competitive races in the 7th and then 8th districts. Like most of the members featured in this article, she is part of the Caucus for the Solution issues and the New Democrat Coalition. She has worked across party lines on legislation on border security, homeland security and prescription drug costs. As she explained in a press release outlining her high ranking on the bipartisan index:

The last year has been far too much partisanship — but it’s also shown that when members of Congress do their jobs, reach across the aisle, and negotiate in good faith, we can get important things done.

She will run for Senate in November in one of the key swing states in the 2024 election.

Abigail Spanberger

Virginia’s 7th Congressional District

Assumed office: 2019

Bipartisan ranking: 17

Abigail Spanberger won a close race for Virginia’s 7th District in 2018overturning the Democrat seat. She won re-election in competitive races in 2020 and 2022slightly increasing his majority each time. A moderate and member of the New Democrat Coalition and the Problem Solving Caucus, she is a leading voice in the fight. to prohibit members of Congress from trading individual stocks.

Despite being popular with voters in both parties, the no-trade legislation has stalled. She continued the effort into the 118th Congress alongside Chip Roy in 2024. From her cross-party cooperation file, she said:

At a time when the most extreme voices can be some of the loudest, MPs who remain focused on delivering for our communities must continue to focus on bridging our divisions.

She will not continue her work in the House in 2025 as she is running Virginia Governor’s Mansion.

Joe Neguse

Colorado Congressional District 2

Assumed office: 2019

Bipartisan ranking: 18

Joe Neguse won a comfortable victory for the seat in 2018 in a solidly blue district that has been in Democratic hands since the 1970s. Neguse received John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award in 2023 due to his effective work building bipartisan coalitions in the House. He founded or co-founded three bipartisan caucuses for wildfire management, fentanyl prevention, and the Colorado River. On his bipartisan record, Neguse said:

I think we are at an inflection point as a country. A time when it is of utmost importance that we work together to foster greater collaboration and dialogue with those with whom we may disagree.

After making it through an uncontested primary, he won nearly three times as many votes as his Republican challenger and should have no trouble getting re-elected in November.

Chrissy Houlahan

Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District

Assumed office: 2019

Bipartisan ranking: 20

A former captain in the United States Air Force, Chrissy Houlahan won her first race for Congress in 2018 and was re-elected fairly easily in 2020 and 2022. She is a member of Caucus for problem solving and The New Democratic Coalition. She strong support Ukraine and finding bipartisan solutions for border security.

To be recognized for her bipartisan recordshe said:

When Democrats and Republicans work together, our nation thrives. Representing a truly bipartisan community here in Pennsylvania has strengthened my belief in the power of collaboration and unity.

Houlahan will run for re-election in November and is expected to win comfortably.

Conclusion

The most bipartisan Democrats generally represent swing districts and are members of the Problem Solvers Caucus and the New Democrat Coalition. Like the most bipartisan Republican members, a competitive district tends to make cooperation more important. At least two Democrats featured in this article will not be in the House in 2025 as they seek different offices. Josh Gottheimer will likely win re-election, but will leave the House next year to run for governor. Davis, Lee and Perez face tough re-election campaigns, meaning half of the most bipartisan Democrats may not be in office next year.

With a divided legislature likely after 2024, the most bipartisan members of the House will have their work cut out for them.

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