Washington, D.C., focuses on legacies. It includes monuments dedicated to former presidents, the heroes permanently inscribed on street signs, and surnames that continue to appear on placards outside congressional offices as descendants strive to commemorate their ancestors' memories and perpetuate their efforts with fresh perspectives.
In recent years, multiple cases have emerged. House Members taking over the roles of their family members. This usually happens because of a death, which leaves the newly appointed legislator to enter an unfamiliar political landscape without the support or reassurance of a close relative.
One of the more recent inheritances comes from former Texas Democratic Representative Erica Lee Carter. She completed her mother’s term, as her mother was a long-serving representative. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) at the conclusion of the 118th Congress Jackson Lee represented Texas’s 18th Congressional District from 1995 up until her passing in July 2024 following a fight against pancreatic cancer.
Typically, Lee Carter wouldn’t have entertained the idea of pursuing her mother’s former position. As a teen, she witnessed firsthand how representing constituents in Washington could strain relationships with loved ones and impact legislators personally. Moreover, she expressed to the Washington Examiner that she preferred engaging in local public and community service endeavors instead.
But I am aware that my mother was an exceptionally resilient closer," Lee Carter stated. "She completed her legislative work and consistently attended to her constituents' needs. Therefore, when numerous individuals who admired and cherished her urged me to contemplate running for office to complete her term, after careful consideration, I concluded that this was truly the minimum tribute I could pay to honor her memory and heritage.
She chose not to run for the complete term in the Eighth District, citing strong contenders in the race and her desire not to upend the lives of her twin children, turning 10 this May. Representative Sylvester Turner (D-TX), who secured the full term in the Eighth District last November, passed away in early March after just a brief period in office, which has once again left the position open.
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) passed away due to cancer following his victory for a 12th term in Arizona’s Seventh Congressional District. His daughter, Adelita Grijalva, who serves as a Pima County supervisor, continues his legacy. running to replace him and finish his term.
When declaring her candidacy to the Arizona Luminaria, she stated that her father was "unwavering and fearless" about his progressive beliefs, and she aims to carry forward his platform as a tribute to him.
"I'm running for Congress because Southern Arizona deserves the kind of bold leadership it has experienced under my father over the past 22 years," Adelita Grijalva stated to the Tucson Sentinel.
Once, women had to depend on their late husbands' political legacies to enter politics. Today, this has become an 'exception rather than the norm.'Name recognition holds considerable importance in elections, especially when an experienced legislator either dies or steps down from politics. This situation provides an opportunity to infuse new talent into congressional chambers while maintaining the position within the same lineage.
In 2014, The Washington Post discovered that 13.5% of senators and 7.7% of representatives originated from dynastic families The study revealed that female lawmakers are almost tripley more likely to hail from political dynasties compared to their male counterparts, with percentages standing at 31.2% for women and 8.4% for men, respectively.
As per the Rutgers University's Center for American Women and Politics, 48 women have been assigned or chosen to occupy seats in Congress vacated due to the passing of their spouses. Debbie Walsh, who leads the center, mentioned to the Washington Examiner that this served as an important avenue for women to join politics roughly a hundred years back. H owever, the trend of women Following in their husbands' footsteps has changed.
Walsh stated, "When women assume this role following the death of their spouses, they often handle it differently nowadays. Some enter politics briefly, just serving one year or completing an unfinished term due to a special election. However, others go on to enjoy lengthy tenures in office."
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) is the sole woman in modern times to follow a still-living spouse into office. She took over from Representative John Dingell, who boasts the longest tenure as a member of Congress in American history.
John was elected to the House of Representatives in 1955 and continued his service until retiring in 2015, representing Michigan’s 12th District during this time. In the 2014 elections, Rep. Dingell won her bid to take over John's seat. Following reapportionment, she currently represents Michigan’s Sixth District where she remains at the forefront of initiatives related to environmental protection and women's health care. She lost her spouse in 2019 following more than two decades of dedicated legislative service.
Rep. Julia Letlow Loudermilk's (R-LA) journey into politics differed from Dingell's. She became the first Republican woman elected to represent Louisiana in Congress following a crowded 12-candidate special election. However, this accomplishment had mixed feelings because she took over the position her late husband, Luke, had won in the 2020 elections but did not live to assume.
In December 2020, Luke Letlow passed away due to complications related to COVID-19 just weeks following his victory in a runoff election and mere days before he was scheduled to take the oath of office. During his campaign alongside his wife, Representative Letlow familiarized himself with the constituents' issues and aspirations. He has consistently promoted higher education during his tenure in the House.
Similar to Representative Letlow’s situation, Walsh mentioned that name recognition and continuing an established legacy can be crucial factors. However, she noted that circumstances have evolved, with numerous women now having spent considerable time in Congress, thus forging their own legacies.
Walsh cited an instance with Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) as an example. Her husband, long-serving Rep. Robert Matsui, passed away in 2005 due to pneumonia. She was seen as the strongest contender for his position. Over her two-decade tenure on Capitol Hill, Matsui has made significant contributions through her service on the Energy and Commerce Committee and played a crucial role in shaping the Affordable Care Act.
It’s now extremely rare for women to attain office through the traditional route of succeeding their husbands," Walsh stated regarding female politicians following in their spouses' footsteps. "In the past, this method was common, whereas those who managed to win elections based on their own merits stood out as unusual cases.
"Women now succeed based on their own abilities," Walsh added.
Family traditions span multiple roomsOther forms of legacy include parent-and-child successions, as seen most recently with Lee Carter and possibly Adelita Grijalva.
Prior to her service in the Senate, Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) was a member of the House of Representatives. Her father, the former Representative Arch Moore (R-WV), represented West Virginia in Congress from 1957 to 1968. Currently, the West Virginia senator’s nephew, Congressman Riley Moore (R-WV), represents the state’s second district, which she herself represented between 2001 and 2015.
Several legacies have worked alongside each other in Congress. Former Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey (D-NJ), who served from 2006 until his resignation in 2024, shared overlapping terms with his son, Representative Rob Menendez (D-NJ), for a period of two years. The senior Menendez stepped down following his conviction in a federal corruption case.
Many legislators have emulated their fathers' paths. One notable example is Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), whose father, former Representative Ron Paul (R-TX), was also involved in politics. Representing Texas as a Libertarian, Congressman Paul served two separate terms from 1976 to 1977 and then from 1979 through 2013. In 2011, Rand Paul began serving as Kentucky’s junior U.S. senator.
Certain legacies involve a duo of brothers striving to transform the globe. Ex-Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) and ex-Representative Sander Levin (D-MI) served together in Congress for three decades, sharing with the Detroit News their insights when spoke nearly every day Carl stepped down from the Senate in 2015 and passed away in 2021. At 90 years old, Sander retired from the House in 2019 and remains active. stayed involved in current political affairs.
Many of these legislators were prepared for the world of national politics by observing their parents, siblings, or spouses serving in Congress. Lee Carter mentioned that his mother "held firm to her convictions" and "never allowed shifting trends or times to alter her stance."
"So her strong stance really impacted me...when I commit to something I back it fully. I don’t alter my beliefs just because they become trendy. She never cared much for popularity," Lee Carter stated about Jackson Lee.
Lee Carter postponed mourning her mother because of her campaign for office, adding yet another challenge to participating in politics. She mentioned that she felt "certainly committed to reaching this objective and fulfilling my duty." She expressed hope that her dedication would motivate other women to pursue roles in government and demonstrate that one doesn't need to rely solely on their family’s history to make an impact.
DAUGHTER OF FORMER ARIZONA REPRESENTATIVE GRIJALVA SEEKING TO FILL OPEN CONGRESSIONAL POSITION
You can begin forging your own journey," Lee Carter stated. "Afterwards, I completed the cycle. I assisted in comprehending it. It helped me grasp my mother better—why she exerted such tremendous effort and what her struggles were really about.
I hope she is proud of me.