LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE Candid Cardin: Retiring Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Del.) has this advice for incoming senators: “Take a deep breath. Don't believe everything people are telling you. Really try to get a handle on transition into the Senate. Don't rush to make too many key decisions. Take your time, particularly on your key staff positions. They are going to be critically important to you in the Senate.” He encouraged senators-elect to build cross-party partnerships early, citing his strong relationship with former Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), which began “from my very first days.” With eight incoming senators coming over from the House, he drew this contrast between the chambers: “You're here to make a difference. You're not here to get reelected. So take the six years and make a difference.” Casework improvement alert: One feature of the House’s new member orientation program this year is a revamped process for the transition of casework. This has previously been a messy and sometimes contentious process. After then-Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) lost a primary in 2022, for instance, he refused to hand over any constituent case files, leaving his successor to start from scratch. For the first time newly elected members are being asked to specify how they would like their casework handled in the event that they leave Congress for any reason. Yes, they could still refuse to cooperate. But making the decision during the buoyant optimism of orientation rather than after a bruising defeat or resignation could make a difference, the thinking goes. The change is meant to “alleviate confusion over how to handle a member’s open casework” and “ensure that constituents continue to receive help,” according to the House Administration Committee, which oversees orientation. — Katherine Tully-McManus and Ursula Perano MORE RANKER DRAMA As House Democrats gear up to debate the futures of at least two of their committee ranking members, the leaders of some of the largest ideological blocs in the caucus are signaling they won’t oppose the challenges. Center stage: Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), the newly elected chair of the centrist New Democrat Coalition, said that “transition will be positive for our caucus” when asked about potential changes. He also cited the generational change atop House Democratic leadership that happened last Congress as top Democrats Reps. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) stepped aside to make way for the new trio of Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Pete Aguilar (Calif.). Outgoing chair Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) said she was “trying to set an example” by making space for newer members, though she didn’t think the caucus would advocate either way on the committee challenges. Reps. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Jim Costa (D-Calif.) have announced challenges to Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and David Scott (D-Ga.) to respectively lead the Natural Resources and Agriculture panels in a contest that is exposing generational divides in the Democratic caucus. On the left: Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the outgoing chair of the Progressive Caucus, said “it shouldn't be seen as a terrible thing” for members to challenge longtime incumbents, though she added: “it's often difficult to make a strong case.” She said that Democrats should look at “structural changes” as well, referencing the committee term limits House Republicans have implemented and House Democrats have repeatedly rejected. She said she has been talking with and is supportive of Grijalva, a former Progressive Cause co-chair, but is also close to Huffman. “This is a situation where typically if we have two members of the caucus, we don't weigh in. But of course I have been talking to Raúl all this time,” she said. Meanwhile, the two top leaders in the Hispanic Caucus, Reps. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) and Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), put out a statement last night saying they backed Grijalva at Natural Resources. Multiple people familiar with the situation told Inside Congress there had been a split inside the CHC over the race, with many members ready to support Grijalva but others more inclined to support Huffman. — Nicholas Wu
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