Jackie Wang

Whether it was working on Donald Trump’s impeachment or for constituents back home, here’s how former congressional staffers made their own way to Congress .

Appointed to the seat after Bob Menendez resigned, Helmy has vowed to never seek elected office. "I know myself,” the former staffer says.

Democrat LaMonica McIver won the special election to succeed the late Rep. Donald M. Payne in New Jersey's 10th District.

Republican state Sen. Michael Rulli won a House special election in Ohio’s 6th District to succeed former Rep. Bill Johnson.

The son of African immigrants who worked in the Biden White House, Democrat Gabe Amo won an open seat in Rhode Island’s 1st District.

“Never go into a meeting prepared,” says Padilla, who started out as a field representative for Feinstein in the mid-1990s.

"If you want to be in public office at some point, first go live life. Go and start a business, get a job, raise a family," he says.

State Sen. Jennifer McClellan won a special election to succeed the late Rep. A. Donald McEachin in the Richmond-area 4th District.

“We have to be smart about it,” says the freshman congressman from New Mexico, who once worked for Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich.

More than a dozen incoming lawmakers already know the drill. They may be new to the 118th Congress, but they’ve worked here before.