Meet our new Democratic Senators

[Oilwellian]

James Webb - Virginia (I'm so proud to be a Virginian now)

In government, Jim served in the U.S. Congress as counsel to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs from l977 to l98l, becoming the first Vietnam veteran to serve as a full committee counsel in the Congress. In 1982 he first proposed, then led the fight for, including an African American soldier in the memorial statue that now graces the Vietnam Veterans memorial on the National Mall. In 1984 he was appointed the inaugural Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, where he traveled extensively in, and worked closely with, our NATO allies. As the Assistant Secretary he directed considerable research and analysis of the U.S. military's mobilization capabilities. In 1987 he became the first Naval Academy graduate in history to serve in the military and later be appointed Secretary of the Navy. He resigned as Naval Secretary in 1988 after refusing to agree to a reduction of the Navy's force structure during congressionally-mandated budget cutting.

Among Jim's many other awards for community service and professional excellence are the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal, the Medal of Honor Society's Patriot Award, the American Legion National Commander's Public Service Award, the VFW's Media Service Award, the Marine Corps League's Military Order of the Iron Mike Award, the John Russell Leader-ship Award, and the Robert L. Denig Distinguished Service Award. He was a Fall 1992 Fellow at Harvard's Institute of Politics.

More of James Webb key issues here.

Ben Cardin - Maryland

Benjamin L. Cardin has represented Maryland's Third Congressional District in the House of Representatives since 1987. He is a member of the Ways and Means Committee, Ranking Member of the Trade Subcommittee and a member of the Human Resources Subcommittee. He also is Ranking Member on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the U.S. Helsinki Commission). In addition, he is Vice President of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly.

In the House, the Congressman has been a leader on fiscal issues, pension reform, and health care. His legislation to increase the amount Americans can put into their 401 (k) plans and IRAs was enacted into law in 2001. His proposal to expand Medicare to include preventive benefits such as colorectal, prostate, mammogram, and osteoporosis screening was also enacted into law. He also has authored legislation to fund graduate medical education, and guarantee coverage for emergency services, and improve the Medicare drug benefit for seniors.

From 1999 to 2005, he was the leading Democrat on the Human Resources Subcommittee where he introduced legislation that would bring welfare reform to the next level by helping those who leave public assistance get the skills they need so they can work their way out of poverty. His bill to increase education and support services for foster care children between ages 18 and 21 was signed into law in 1999. He has authored bills to expand child support, hold fathers more accountable, improve the welfare-to-work program and increase the child care tax credit. In 2005, he received the Wall of Fame Award from Maryland's Welfare Advocates.

More key Cardin issues here.

John Tester - Montana (I REALLY love this guy)

A respected member in the community, Tester served for five years as chairman of the Big Sandy School Board of Trustees, is a past master of Treasure Lodge #95 of the Masons in Big Sandy, and served on the Big Sandy Soil Conservation Service (SCS) Committee and the Chouteau County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) Committee.

Tester is a former music teacher in the Big Sandy School District and holds a bachelor’s of science degree in music from the University of Great Falls.

Since the late 1980s Tester has put his stamp of leadership on the family farm by moving toward organic farming. The Tester family now grows organic wheat, barley, lentils, peas, millet, buckwheat, alfalfa and hay.

Eight years ago, outraged by rate hikes brought on by the deregulation of Montana Power, Tester ran for the Montana Legislature.

Senator Tester recently completed his fourth regular session in the Montana Senate. After election as the minority whip for the 2001 session, and minority leader for the 2003 session, Tester was selected in 2005 by his colleagues to lead as President of the Montana Senate, serving as the chief presiding officer of the Montana Legislature’s upper chamber.

His tenure as President marked a significant and successful transition for Montana Democrats as they moved into the majority leadership of the Senate for the first time in more than a decade.

More on his key issues here.

Claire McCaskill - Missouri

This election is critical for Missouri and our country. Washington D.C is spiraling out of control. Moneyed interests outweigh the will of the people. A war is being fought without a strategy to win -- or keep us safe. And billions of dollars are being added every day to a deficit our children will have to pay. Meanwhile, the urgent needs of everyday Americans are neglected. It's time for a Senator on our side, standing up for Missouri's families. That's Claire McCaskill.

In the tradition of Harry Truman, Claire McCaskill means it when she says: "The Buck Stops Here." Growing up in rural Missouri, Claire was taught strong, small town values that stayed with her during her 23 years of serving the public. As a Missouri state representative, county prosecutor and state auditor, Claire has dedicated her life to listening to the needs of working families, holding government accountable and ensuring public policies benefit the people, not the special interests.

Claire McCaskill is working hard to become a strong voice of reason in Washington. She is fighting for Missouri values by challenging Jim Talent's weak record on the issues that Missourians care about most: strong leadership when it comes to keeping our nation safe, solutions to our nation's growing energy crisis, quality healthcare for all, and accountability to the people they serve.

At a time when common sense in Washington D.C. is in short supply, Claire is eager and ready to go to Washington to put everyday Missourians ahead of the special interests. It's time Missouri had a Senator who's on our side.

More key issues here.


Bernie Sanders (I) - Vermont (will caucus with the Dems)


Bernie Sanders believes that in the richest nation in the history of the world, all Americans should enjoy a decent standard of living. He believes that it is unacceptable that millions of people are forced to work for sub-standard wages and lack health care, decent housing and educational opportunity. He regards it as a national disgrace that the United States has, by far, the highest rate of child poverty of any industrialized country and a childcare system that is abysmal. He regards it as unconscionable that the United States remains the only country in the industrialized world which does not have a national health care system guaranteeing health care for all, and that millions of seniors lack the prescription drugs they desperately need.

Most of Sanders’ energy has been devoted to issues that affect the needs of the people that government often ignores - working families, the middle class, the elderly, children and the poor. In a nation in which the wealthiest one percent own more wealth than the bottom ninety-five percent, and where the CEOs of major corporations earn 500 times what their employees make, Sanders believes that the middle class and working families of our country need all the help they can get. Sanders has also been strongly involved on environmental issues, and in protecting the rights of women, minorities and the gay community. He has also been one of the leaders in Congress in opposition to the war in Iraq.

More of Sanders key issues here.

[kwolf68]

1. Wooooo....

I finally voted for a Democrat (Webb) who won. Damn, it feels good....and give it up for Bernie....proud to see him heading to the Senate. Like the others as well....don't want to give short thrift to Cardin and McCaskill ...

[ddbaj]

2. Sure beats the alternatives!

Allen, Santorum, Talent, Burns, etc

Don't forget about those two progressives, Brown and Whitehouse. :)

[Robbien]

3. "What an improvement" is a huge understatement

Consider the cesspool which was just dumped.

I look forward to seeing how these guys help get out country back on track.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. You missed a few!

Amy Klobuchar


Amy Klobuchar has spent her life helping people and standing up for what's right. She's an innovative leader who has championed new ideas that have produced results. As Hennepin County's chief prosecutor, she manages an office of nearly 400 employees, including 160 lawyers, and currently serves more than 1.1 million residents — almost a quarter of the state's population.

Sheldon Whitehouse



Sheldon Whitehouse has the experience to fight for Rhode Island in the U.S. Senate. As a former Attorney General, U.S.Attorney appointed by President Clinton, and Governor’s Policy Director, Sheldon has twenty years of public service working for the people of Rhode Island.

As Attorney General, he fought for tough new gun control legislation that strengthened penalties for armed criminals. As U.S. Attorney, he successfully prosecuted members of the Latin Kings gang, and created new programs in schools and neighborhoods to make Rhode Island’s streets safer. Recognizing the healthcare crisis confronting his state’s families, he founded the Quality Institute, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of health care in Rhode Island.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Sheldon began the just-won fight for Separation of Powers over a decade ago. He also led the effort to rebuild the workers compensation system and helped lead a successful resolution to the banking crisis.

Sheldon is running for the U.S. Senate because he sees the need to work for a change in Washington and a new national agenda. As a Senator, Sheldon will work to strengthen Social Security, protect the environment, and make health care more available and affordable. He will be a strong and reliable voice for the people of Rhode Island. Sheldon and his wife Sandra, a marine biologist and environmental advocate, reside in Providence with their two children, Molly and Alexander.

Bob Casey


As a two-term Pennsylvania Auditor General and now as State Treasurer, Bob Casey has compiled an impressive record of accomplishment. In fact, when he was elected State Treasurer, Bob Casey received more votes than any other candidate in Pennsylvania history.

He has been a fiscal watchdog who made nursing homes safer, child care more affordable, government more accountable, and led the fight to reform Megan's Law to better protect Pennsylvania communities and children.

As Auditor General - the Commonwealth's independently elected fiscal and public safety watchdog - Casey aggressively fought to stop waste and fraud involving tax dollars and improve the effectiveness of government services and agencies. His efforts directly resulted in changes that have saved Pennsylvania taxpayers more than $1 billion.

Bob Casey will bring this same accountability to Washington. He'll fight to end no-bid contracts, sweetheart deals, and wasteful spending. Perhaps more importantly, he will work to hold the administration accountable rather than being a rubber stamp for failed economic, fiscal, and foreign policies.

Sherrod Brown


Sherrod Brown was raised in Mansfield, Ohio and attended the local public schools. The son of a small town doctor who made house calls and treated everyone regardless of their ability to pay, Sherrod has never forgotten where he comes from.

As a Congressman from the 13th District since 1992, he’s earned a reputation as an independent voice for ordinary Ohioans and middle-class families – a man of principle who has made a career of standing up to special interests who have too much influence in Washington.

While many in Washington have simply gone along with corporate-backed free trade deals that have devastated Ohio’s manufacturing sector and sent good-paying American jobs overseas, Sherrod has been a tireless advocate for policies that help workers and their families. Because he understands that representing people is more important than partisan politics, he stood up to both Democratic President Bill Clinton and Republican President George W. Bush to fight against the North American and Central American Free Trade Agreements.

[Oilwellian]

6. Thanks so much for including them

I'm still in a daze from last Tuesday. :D

[Justyce]

5. Who is James Webb lifting over his head in the first pic?

j/k, but I had to do a double-take. :D