Rep.-elect Sean Casten's (D-Ill.) status as a political outsider helped to propel him to victory last Tuesday. But, like several other incoming members of the 116th Congress's freshman class, Casten isn't entirely the outsider that he’s made himself out to be.
Casten is one of four of the class of 93 confirmed members-elect who previously registered as federal lobbyists. A decade ago, the scientist and businessman lobbied the federal government through his Recycled Energy Development company, which focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Other newly minted congressmen-elect with lobbying backgrounds are Greg Steube (R-Fla.), who last year lobbied mainly on tax issues through his own one-man shop; Donna Shalala (D-Fla.), who lobbied for the University of Miami during her tenure as the instution's president; and Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.), a former Human Rights Watch lobbyist.
Of those, Malinowski is the only one to have worked for Congress, thanks to a stint as a special assistant to then-Sen. Pat Moynihan (D-N.Y.). In addition to Malinowski, 10 other members-elect worked as congressional aides at some point prior to their election to Congress. One other, Rep.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), spent a high school summer working as a Senate page, while Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) interned for then-Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.).
Even some incoming members without direct congressional or lobbying backgrounds have significant government experience: 29 members-elect taking office in the 116th bring with them experience serving as state and territory legislators.
