The fewest bipartisan Democrats in the house

The 118th Congress is about to be one of the the least productive in American history. When Republicans won control of the House of Representatives in 2022, the legislation stalled. Every year the non-profit organization Lugar Center and McCourt School of Public Policy launch the bipartisan index that tracks how effective each member is in working with the other party.

For a select few, bipartisanship is not something to aspire to, but to oppose. This article is about the House Democrats least inclined to cross the aisle.

Why this matters

In November, American voters will determine not only the presidency, but also who controls Congress. One party could secure the trifecta of government, 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.

10 – Adam Smith

Washington’s 9th Congressional District

Taking office: 1997

Bipartisan ranking: 414

Adam Smith has represented Washington’s 9th district since 1997. Smith is a member of the moderate New Democrat coalition and the more left-leaning Progressive Caucus. He is also the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee. Smith will face another Democrat in November after the August primary and is expected to win that race comfortably.

9 – Nancy Pelosi

California’s 11th Congressional District

Taking office: 1987

Bipartisan ranking: 415

Former Speaker of the House from 2007-11 and 2019-23, Nancy Pelosi remains one of the most influential politicians in the country. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1987. As Speaker, she was known for her ability to get legislation through Congress and was instrumental in its passage. The Affordable Care Actthe Obama administration’s landmark health care bill. She was one of the the main power brokers behind Joe Biden’s decision to retire in 2024. Although reviled by the right and not terribly popular with the left, Pelosi won all of her House races by huge margins.

At 84, he will have at least one more term in the House after November.

8 – Jim Clyburn

South Carolina 6th Congressional District

Office assumed: 1993

Bipartisan ranking: 419

Jim Clyburn has represented South Carolina’s 6th District since 1993. Clyburn was one of the most influential Democrats in the country for 30 years and held various leadership roles before stepping down. February 2024. He was instrumental in both Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s primary victories in 2008 and 2021. Although he ranks low on the most recent bipartisan index, he is known for his prowess in backroom negotiations. He was accused of quietly securing his seat at the expense of creating another competitive district in South Carolina during redistribution.

Now 84, he will seek another term in the House in November.

7 – Ayanna Pressley

Massachusetts 7th Congressional District

Assumed office: 2019

Bipartisan ranking: 420

Ayanna Pressley won an upset victory over incumbent Mike Capuano in the 2018 primary for District 7 and ran unopposed in the general election. It represents one of the safest Democratic seats in the country, Republicans haven’t bothered running an opponent since the 1990s. Pressley is part of the “Team” the name given to a small group of young left-leaning Democrats who won their first chance in 2018. They represent the left flank of the Democratic Party and are sometimes at odds with its more moderate members.

Pressley will have no serious opposition in the November election.

6 – Delia Ramirez

Illinois Congressional District 3

Assumed office: 2023

Bipartisan ranking: 426

Delia Ramirez won the primary to fill the vacancy created by redistribution in 2022 and comfortably won the general election in the heavily Democratic district. Ramirez joined the Progressive Caucus and is one of three special order time summoners. Previously she co-founded Illinois House Progressive Caucus.

She is associated with “the team” and has taken some noteworthy positions in her short career in Congress. Ramirez was one of the nine no votes a resolution supporting Israel in July 2023, which she explained in a later press release:

I believe we must continue to work for a world where the full humanity and rights of all Israelis (sic) and Palestinians are honored. This resolution does not do that, and therefore I could not support it.

She voted against it another resolution supporting Israel after the Hamas attacks. Ramirez was unopposed in the The Mayor of June and should have little trouble winning the general election in November.

5 – Ilhan Omar

Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District

Assumed office: 2018

Bipartisan ranking: 427

The Vice President of the Progressive Caucus and one of the original members of the so-called team, Ilhan Omar is a prominent member of the House. Her outspoken criticism of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and the lobbying efforts of pro-Israel groups has drawn the ire of Republicans and her constituents. own party alike. It was removed from the Foreign Affairs Committee by House Republicans in 2023, a move that some GOP the members opposite.

In a heavily Democratic district, the only threat to Omar’s seat comes from a primary challenge. She survived a scare in 2022 when she he soundly beat Don Samuels in the primary. In August 2024, she overcame another challenge from Samuels, but with an increased majority.

4 – Greg Casar

Texas 35th Congressional District

Assumed office: 2023

Bipartisan ranking: 429

Greg Casar won the race for district 35 after being redesigned in 2022. Casar is the one Whip for the Progressive Caucus. He made headlines with a nine-hour hunger strike in 2023. The protest was over a Texas law that eliminated local protections for outdoor workers. Casar’s nuanced take on the Israeli-Palestinian situation has lost him support Austin Democratic Socialists of America but has little difficulty retaining its seat in 2024.

3 – Jamaal Bowman

New York’s 16th Congressional District

Assumed office: 2021

Bipartisan ranking: 433

A former executive, Bowman upset longtime congressman Elliot Engel in the 2020 primary for New York’s 16th district. He is a vice president from the Progressive Caucus and saw a strong primary challenge in 2022. Unfortunately for Bowman, he burned a lot of goodwill in his third term with a series of controversies.

Bowman was accused of pulling a fire alarm in one of the Capitol buildings while the chamber was in session in October 2023. He was later fined and censured for the act. The congressman attracted more controversy when old blog posts promoting conspiracy theories the sexual assaults that followed the October 7 attacks were unearthed and downplayed. He apologized for observations.

His troubles drew a well-funded primary challenge from a moderate Democrat, George Latimer. American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) spent $14.5 million to beat Bowman in the mayor of June.

2 – Cory Bush

Missouri’s 1st Congressional District

Assumed office: 2021

Bipartisan ranking: 434

Cori Bush won a surprise victory in the 2020 primary against longtime incumbent Lacy Clay for Missouri’s 1st District. Bush joined Progressive Caucus and aligned herself with “the team” shortly after her general election victory. She rose to national prominence with a high-profile protest in which she slept on the steps of the US Capitol for several days to prolong herself. CARES Act. Democratic leadership he praised his watchfulness.

However, campaign finance scandalsbizarre statements of healing by faithand open criticism of Israel proved to be her undoing. AIPAC spent almost 9 million dollars to support his primary opponent in 2024. Wesley Bell defeated Cori Bush in August primaries.

1 – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

New York’s 14th Congressional District

Assumed office: 2018

Bipartisan ranking: 435

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became an overnight sensation when she shocked senior Democrat Joe Crowley in the the 2018 primaries for New York’s 14th District. The 28-year-old used grassroots support to overcome Crowley’s financial and tenure advantage. Often known by her initials, AOC, she easily won re-election in 2020 and 2022.

She is perhaps best known for the Green New Deal, an ambitious plan to tackle climate change and economic inequality. The bill has no Republican supporters and a lot of Democratic critics. It has very little chance of seeing the light of day.

Her prominence as a leftist politician makes her a frequent target for attacks from the right Paul Gosar was censored for a social post about it. Her positions on voting sometimes draw the ire of her own party. She voted against Joe Biden infrastructure bill because it didn’t go far enough.

She is the second least bipartisan member of the House, behind only Jim Jordan overall. With a heavily Democratic district, the only real threat to her seat is a primary challenge. This could be a moderately well-funded AOC, or perhaps the next generation.

Conclusion

The Democrats in this article are a curious mix of the old guard and the new progressive wing of the party. Two of the so-called team will not return to the House in 2025 after losing bitter and costly primary battles. Nancy Pelosi and Jim Clyburn have safe seats, but both are 84 years old and likely won’t have much longer in office. By 2027, most of the members featured here may have either retired, been voted out, or sought higher office. Like the least bipartisan Republicans, the Democrats least likely to make it across the aisle represent districts without serious opposition. Their only real threat is from the mayor, which is how the majority got into power in the first place and how two will leave.

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