Vietnamese-American Anh “Joseph” Cao defeated a nine-term incumbent.

Washington — The new faces in the 111th Congress when it convenes January 6, 2009, will include Vietnamese-American Anh “Joseph” Cao.

Cao surprised nearly everyone when he won the Louisiana 2nd Congressional District’s contest, defeating nine-term Democratic Congressman William Jefferson December 6. The election was delayed from its original November 4 date because many people in the district had evacuated during Hurricane Gustav.

“I am very honored and, at this point, somewhat speechless to be the first Vietnamese-American congressman,” Cao said in a CNN interview December 7. “But I also hope that many of our young people will consider being more politically active and being more involved in the community — because as you can see, really, anything can happen.”

Fleeing Vietnam as it fell to communists in 1975, Cao came to the United States at age 8 without his parents.

Representing a predominantly African-American district in New Orleans, he will be the first Republican leader of the Louisiana 2nd since 1890.

“Whether the person is a Democrat or a Republican, whether the person is African-American, black or white or Asian, my duty as their representative is to serve the needs of all constituents,” Cao told the New Orleans Times-Picayune December 8.

NEW FACES OF THE 111th CONGRESS

The next Congress will include at least 50 new representatives and nine new senators. The outcomes of a few races have not yet been determined.

The new congressional representatives come from a variety of backgrounds — some with years of political experience, others serving in elected office for the first time. They have worked in a wide range of professions and bring a diverse set of skills and interests to the legislative branch.

Many have served in state government. New Hampshire, Nebraska and Virginia elected former governors to the Senate and several new members of Congress have served in state legislatures. Some have worked in Washington before: For example, Nebraska’s incoming Senator Mike Johanns previously served as President Bush’s secretary of agriculture.

At least 11 of the new members have served in the U.S. military. Tom Rooney of Florida has said he hopes his military experience will help him advocate for veterans’ benefits and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Glenn Nye of Virginia also has represented the United States overseas, as a member of the State Department’s Foreign Service.

HEALTH CARE INTEREST, EXPERTISE

Health care is expected to be a major issue in the 111th Congress, and newly elected representatives who are physicians or work in the health care industry (at least five) hope their experience will help them play an influential role in that debate. Louisiana’s Dr. Bill Cassidy, a physician who set up a makeshift hospital in an abandoned building during Hurricane Katrina, says he will advocate for more health insurance options.

Dr. Kurt Schrader of Oregon also says health care is one of his top legislative priorities. But his background in health is a bit different — as a veterinarian and farmer, he has a long history of treating sick animals.

Other new members of Congress are entrepreneurs, textile workers, ranchers, teachers, lawyers, realtors, engineers and accountants. Many hope their backgrounds will help them push for effective legislation on topics they know. Blaine Luetkemeyer of Missouri, a rancher, probably will be vocal on agricultural issues, while Dina Titus, a college professor from Nevada, has said she hopes to serve on the House Education and Labor Committee.

Some of the new Congress members already have spent plenty of time on Capitol Hill. Dan Maffei of New York and Pete Olson of Texas previously worked as congressional staffers. Duncan Hunter of California also has a good idea of what life in Congress is like; the previous occupant of his seat was his father, also named Duncan.

SOME ELECTIONS STILL UNRESOLVED

There are 435 members of the House of Representatives and 100 senators, but when the new Congress begins there might be some empty seats. There are still one House race and one Senate contest with undetermined outcomes, and it is uncertain yet if winners will be determined by the beginning of the new session.

A recount is planned for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District. In Minnesota, a recount in the state’s Senate race found Republican incumbent Norm Coleman leading Democrat Al Franken by 192 votes of the nearly 3 million ballots cast. Officials for both campaigns and the state are reviewing that result.

In addition, during the first few months of the 111th Congress, some of its members likely will leave to fill posts in the executive branch as the new president appoints his advisers.

Already, one Illinois Senate seat is vacant — the one held by President-elect Obama until he resigned it in December. Vice President-elect Joe Biden will have to resign his Delaware Senate seat before he takes the oath of office on January 20, 2009.

Obama’s choice for secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, is currently a senator from New York. Once nominated and confirmed by the Senate, Clinton would have to resign her Senate post.

In addition, the appointment of Rahm Emanuel as Obama’s White House chief of staff means a House seat for Illinois soon will be vacant.