(Seniority matters in Congress, and we just don't have much of it. - promoted by Matt Glazer)
Kos notes in passing that the Louisiana GOP candidate for governor, Bobby Jindal, has been ranked by Congress.org as the 432nd most (least?) powerful Representative. I decided to check how the Texas Republicans are ranked in the new Congress. The results will not surprise anyone.
Rep. Sessions brings up the rear of the Texas delegation, coming in at 425. This is a stunning drop for Sessions--he was 85th in the 2006 Congress. The second least powerful member of the delegation is Rep. Poe. He comes in at 422. He may try to blame that on his lack of seniority, but he is also the second least powerful member of his class (2004), just ahead of Bobby Jindal.
Rep. McCaul is 414th, followed by Gohmert (404), Culberson (387), Conaway (382), Burgess (382), Brady (355), Paul (345), Thornberry (313), Neugebauer (309), Marchant (296), Hensarling (293), Carter (264), Johnson (260), Granger (227), Hall (169), and Barton (69).
As for the Texas Democrats, they are lead by Chet Edwards (37) and Silvestre Reyes (39). Henry Cuellar is last (296). Cuellar is the third lowest ranked Democrat in the class of 2004.
This is yet another indication of how redistricting has eroded the influence of the Texas congressional delegation. No doubt that Sandlin, Turner, and Stenholm would have been in at least the top 100. Their replacements are weak, even within their own party.
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