Now in majority, state's Democrats ready to use new clout

Congresswomen Suzan DelBene and Pramila Jayapal found themselves in an unfamiliar situation when the U.S. House of Representatives convened its 2019 session: the majority.

A wave of victories in the mid-term elections — including their re-elections — carried the Democratic party into control of the chamber for the first time in eight years.

And to them, it felt good. Really good.

“It’s only been a day but so far it’s absolutely better,” said DelBene, who has represented the 1st Congressional District since 2012. “I am excited about the opportunities ahead and to know that important legislation I’ve been working on can get a hearing and has a chance to move.”

Jayapal, elected in 2014 in the 7th District, on Friday said it is “wonderful already.”

“The importance of this moment is enormous,” she said. “We saw it immediately by being able to move forward bills to end the shutdown. It really feels good to watch the (Republican) amendments be rejected on the floor.”

DelBene, Jayapal and Democratic Rep. Rick Larsen of the 2nd Congressional District, each represent a part of Snohomish County in Congress. They are among the seven Democrats and three Republicans in Washington’s House delegation. Democrats gained a seat and Republicans lost one in November.

This isn’t Larsen’s initial time in the majority. He entered Congress in 2001, and Democrats held control for a four-year stretch following the 2006 election. Fewer than half the members of the current caucus were around for any of that period, he said.

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