List of new members of the 96th United States Congress

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(Class 2) (D) (98th overall) No Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of AlabamaU.S. Marine Corps Major 1921 Arkansas (D) (89th overall) No Governor of ArkansasU.S. House of RepresentativesArkansas House of Representatives 1934 Colorado (R) (92nd overall) Yes U.S. House of RepresentativesPresident of the Colorado SenateColorado House of RepresentativesColorado Army National Guard 1937 Iowa (R) (99th overall) Yes Lieutenant Governor of IowaIowa SenateScott County CommissionU.S. Army Reserve Captain 1928 Maine(Class 2) (R) (90th overall) Yes U.S. House of RepresentativesMayor of Bangor 1940 Massachusetts (D) (91st overall) Yes U.S. House of RepresentativesMiddlesex County CommissionLowell City Council 1941 Michigan (D) (96th overall) Yes President of the Detroit City Council 1934 Nebraska (D) (95th overall) Yes Governor of NebraskaU.S. Army Signal Corps 1921 New Hampshire(Class 2) (R) (100th overall) Yes Professional pilotU.S. Air Force 1940 New Jersey (D) (97th overall) Yes Professional basketball playerAir Force Reserve Command 1943 Oklahoma (D) (94th overall) Yes Governor of OklahomaOklahoma House of RepresentativesOklahoma Army National Guard 1941 South Dakota (R) (93rd overall) Yes U.S. House of RepresentativesU.S. Army First Lieutenant 1942

Took office during the 96th Congress State Image Senator Took office Switched party Prior background Birth year Ref Maine(Class 1) (D) No U.S. District Court Judge for MaineU.S. Attorney for Maine 1933 New Hampshire(Class 3) (R) Yes Attorney General of New Hampshire 1930 Florida (R) Yes Florida Public Service CommissionVice President of Air Florida 1927 Alabama(Class 3) (R) Yes U.S. Navy Rear Admiral 1924

House of Representatives Took office January 3, 1979 District Representative Switched party Prior background Birth year Ref (D) No State Senator 1934 (R) Yes Prosecutor 1935 (D) No Prosecutor 1938 (D) No City Councillor 1941 (D) No State Assemblyman 1942 (R) Yes County Supervisor 1934 (D) No Congressional staffer 1942 (R) Yes U.S. DHHS official 1941 (R) No State Assemblyman 1941 (D) No State Assemblyman 1934 (R) No Mayor of La Mirada 1923 (R) Yes Lawyer 1946 (R) No State Assemblyman 1934 (R) No State Assemblyman 1929 (D) No State Senator 1941 (R) No State Representative 1942 (D) Yes State House Speaker 1934 (D) No State Representative 1926 (D) Yes State Representative 1942 (D) No Chief of staff 1944 (D) Yes County Sheriff 1910 (R) Yes Professor 1943 (D) No City Councillor 1912 (R) Yes Dentist 1936 (R) Yes State Representative 1942 (R) Yes State Representative 1950 (R) Yes Corporate director 1925 (R) No State Representative 1939 (R) Yes State Senator 1933 (D) No State Representative 1934 (R) No State Senator 1947 (D) No Political organizer 1932 (D) Yes Public Service Commissioner 1943 (D) No Congressional aide 1952 (D) No Mayor of Peabody 1929 (D) No State Representative 1946 (D) Yes State Representative 1939 (D) Yes State Representative 1925 (R) No State Senator 1932 (R) No Minnesota Secretary of State 1931 (DFL) No State House Speaker 1938 (R) No Congressional aide 1942 (D) No State Representative 1937 (R) No State Senator 1939 (R) Yes Lawyer 1941 (D) No State Senator 1924 (C) Yes County Legislator 1942 (D) No Lawyer 1935 (D) Yes U.S. Representative 1921 (R) Yes State Assemblyman 1930 (R) No State Assemblyman 1933 (D) Yes State Senator 1942 (R) Yes County Commissioner 1942 (D) No Real estate broker 1950 (D) No Minister 1941 (R) Yes State Senator 1937 (R) Yes Metallurgical engineer 1940 (D) No Lawyer 1945 (R) Yes Lawyer 1929 (D) Yes County Commissioner 1927 (R) Yes State Senator 1940 (D) No Congressional aide 1947 (D) No State Senator 1945 (D) No Professor 1942 (D) No Businessman 1931 (D) No State Representative 1941 (D) No Business executive 1938 (D) No State Representative 1944 (D) No State Senator 1942 (R) Yes Assistant to President Gerald Ford 1946 (R) Yes U.S. Representative 1935 (D) No Lawyer 1942 (D) No Broadcaster 1935 (D) Yes County Councilor 1939 (R) Yes State Assemblyman 1938 (R) No State Senator 1943 (R) Yes White House Chief of Staff 1941

Non-voting members District Delegate Switched party Prior background Birth year Ref (R) Yes Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands 1917

Took office during the 96th Congress District Representative Took office Switched party Prior background Birth year Ref (R) Yes County Supervisor 1920 (R) No State Senator 1940 (R) Yes State Representative 1935 (D) No State Representative 1929 (D) Yes State Representative 1943 (D) No Mayor of Charleston 1935 (D) No Jurist 1909

See also List of United States representatives in the 96th Congress List of United States senators in the 96th Congress

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