With the 2014 midterms behind us, this is a good time to acquainted with the new Senators and a brief bit on where they stand.
Tom Cotton (R) – He served five years on active duty, including two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Cory Gardner (R) – Against abortion, but supports a measure for over the counter birth control pills. Also supports, to an extent, allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the country.
David Perdue (R) – Former CEO of Reebok & Dollar General. Is opposed to immigration, opposed to minimum wage increases and plans to submit legislation to repeal the ACA (Obamacare).
Joni Ernst (R) – An unknown Lieutenat Colonel in the Iowa National Guard until she ran a catchy ad on t.v. in which she promoted her experience castrating hogs on her family’s farm and pledged to cut pork and “make ’em squeal” in Washington.
Gary Peters (R) – A 3 time house member his focus has been on the automobile industry. He supported the federal bailout and government-led bankruptcy reorganization of General Motors and Chrysler and served as co-chairman of the bipartisan House Automotive Caucus.
Steve Daines (R) – He was the nominee for lieutenant governor in 2008 but lost. He won an open seat for Congress in 2012 and jumped into the Senate race when Democrat Max Baucus was named the Ambassador to China.
Ben Sasse (R) – Sasse served as an assistant secretary of health and human services under Pres. George W. Bush. He was educated at Harvard, Oxford University and St. John’s. Sasse ran on the commitment that he understood the federal health care law in depth and could offer workable alternatives.
Thom Tillis (R) – He campaigned on how he helped bring to power GOP state legislators who reduced taxes and regulations and reined in spending.
He toppled Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan in the most expensive Senate campaign in the nation.
James Lankford (R) – A two-term congressman from Oklahoma who had the support of young evangelicals who knew Lankford from his 13 years as director one of the largest Christian youth camps in the country.
Mike Rounds(R) – A 2 term Governor and now Senator at 60, he has said he wants to start work on the Keystone XL pipeline, help repeal the health care law and enact an immigration overhaul.
Shelly Moore Capito(R) – The first female senator from West Virginia who is also breaking a 55 year streak of only Democrats representing the state in the Senate. Capito has been a staunch critic of the president’s energy policies and has also voted to repeal healthcare laws (ACA)