'Enjoy the basement!': New members of Congress move in

WASHINGTON- Near the cafeteria of the Rayburn House office building, right next to the trash bins, is a drab room with rows of cubicles wistfully called the “Outgoing Member Center.”

After each election, sitting House members who retire or lose their careers are relegated to this sad wing for their final weeks in office. At the same time, incoming members report to a freshmen orientation that culminates in cheerfully choosing paint colors, curtains, and furniture for the offices they will occupy for at least the next two years.

The transition period is a thorny time on Capitol Hill, occupied simultaneously by anticipation and resignation. The focus is on the wide-eyed new members flooding the halls, while those leaving are rather rudely pushed aside in their final days.

A staffer for a California House member called it “the worst experience in Congress.”

Even outgoing Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), elected Nov. 6 to serve as California's next U.S. senator, was told he had until last Wednesday to leave his position in the House.

“I came back to take a photo of the staff in my Chamber office and my name had already been taken off the wall,” he said. “Then there was a blank space on the wall. I thought, Oh my God, they've taken my name!

Like most, I was not at all impressed by the temporary facilities offered at the center for outgoing members. He has a separate office in the basement that he described as “totally luxurious” by comparison.

Fortunately for Schiff, he will take over for outgoing Sen. Laphonza Butler when she and her team leave next month.

Incoming House members gathered early Thursday morning at the Capitol for the 119th Congressional office lottery, a tradition that began with the 60th Congress in 1908.

Members were randomly called to a polished wooden box containing numbered tokens that determined the order in which they would choose an available office suite. Those with the lowest numbers would be the first to choose.

It was a moment of competitive levity at the end of their whirlwind two-week orientation, but also one of high stakes. It was determined whether his staff would work in a spacious suite with views of the National Mall and within walking distance of the Capitol building, or stick with something much less impressive and convenient.

Rep.-elect Craig Goldman (R-Texas) took first place. He got 48.

“Oh, that hurts!” Rep.-elect Sam Liccardo (D-San Jose) jokingly interrupted from the sidelines. “Enjoy the basement!”

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

(Mariam Zuhaib / Associated Press)

The members cheered in unison when one of their colleagues rolled a low number and groaned when he rolled a high number.

Rep.-elect Luz Rivas (D-North Hollywood) clenched her fists and made the sign of the cross as she walked toward the lottery box. He got 43.

Rep.-elect Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) posted a selfie with Rivas in X as the process progressed, calling it “the Capitol's equivalent of a sporting event.”

When it was Liccardo's turn, he waved his arm; He later said that senior members of Congress had told him there was a tradition of dancing for good luck. But he grimaced as he looked at his chip: 47.

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

Rep.-elect Lateefah Simon (D-Richmond) attended but did not participate in the lottery. He said he had submitted a request to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for an accessible office that could meet the needs of people with disabilities. On Wednesday, Johnson approved his request and provided him with an office on the first floor of the Longworth House office building.

“I'm a disability advocate, the only disabled person in this class, and I ran because of that,” said Simon, who was born legally blind. “What a wonderful way to begin my process here at the Capitol, being able to tell the disability community… your needs will be met.”

Candidates in races that have not yet been called will not be able to participate in the lottery. In California, two races remain too close to call. Rep. John Duarte (R-Modesto), who is facing Democrat Adam Gray, had a lead of just 210 votes as of Friday afternoon. Democrat Derek Tran beat incumbent Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Seal Beach) by 480 votes.

Duarte spokesman Duane Dichiara said it's strange that the timing of elections in California and the regular congressional rotation don't coincide.

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

(Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press)

“The way to address it would be to have California count its votes in a reasonable period of time,” he said. “It should be integrated with the way Congress actually works and not rely solely on the whims of the county recorder.”

Tran attended the new member orientation, but Gray did not. In 2022, when Duarte and Gray were separated by 564 votes, they both attended orientation.

When it comes to choosing an office, Liccardo said if Gray and Tran beat the incumbents, they would take over their offices.

“It's actually a blessing in disguise,” he said. “We're all very jealous of Derek Tran because he probably has it all in the bag, and he also has a nice suite.”

Simon will represent the district currently represented by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), who is retiring. Lee's staff moved out of their coveted office overlooking the Capitol and are now working in cafes, Simon said.

“It's crazy, right?” she said. “There really is no place for them. They are very resourceful in trying to figure out how to get the job done.”