Republican women, in a series of interviews with the Washington Examiner, shared their experiences of the relationships they have formed and ideas they have exchanged through dinner parties, wine nights, and breakfasts at the Capitol.
“Forming close relationships with my colleagues, especially fellow moms, while we’re away from home and our families makes what we do easier on a personal and professional level,” Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) told the Washington Examiner. “It builds a real sense of camaraderie that’s crucial to being effective as legislators—I’ve been truly fortunate to have a group to lean on who understands firsthand this unique experience.”
Relationships within a caucus and across the aisle are crucial for the governing body to function effectively, especially as many members have shifted to living in their districts and commuting to Washington when Congress is in session.
“The political incentive is to be in your district as much as possible, but governing is a skill,” Bipartisan Policy Institute Vice President of Democracy and Bipartisanship Matthew Weil told the Washington Examiner. “It’s a different skill than campaigning, and governing requires actually talking to people, actually knowing them.”
GOP strategist Dennis Lennox noted that relationships in Congress have diminished due to this shift. “There’s no question that the biggest challenge or issue facing Congress is the lack of relationships, both within the same party and across the aisle,” Lennox said. “Until somewhat recently, most members of both chambers spent more time in the capital. They didn’t fly in every Monday or Tuesday and fly home every Thursday. They went to the same churches, they golfed at the same courses, they ate at the same restaurants, their spouses did things together, they worshiped in the same pews, and their kids went to the same schools. There were genuine relationships.”
He continued, “It’s hard not to look at the rise of members sleeping on an office cot and deriding the whole institution as contributing to the downfall of relations in the way that Congress, for much of our country’s history, has operated.”
Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) emphasized the need for women to “stick together,” highlighting the importance of talking to other members about what is happening back home.
Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK), who served as the first GOP woman freshman class president, spoke about a group of bicameral appropriators—including Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-ME)—who met for breakfast at the Capitol after Bice hosted a dinner inviting all Congressional Republican women.
“It was really funny, because there was one breakfast where some of the male senators came in and looked at the table and thought, oh, no, what’s happening? They were a little taken aback,” Bice joked. She added, “But it gives us the opportunity to share kind of what we’re seeing, what we’re hearing, what we think is going to happen, and also building the rapport so that we can bounce things off of each other and figure out how do we move the country forward.”
Weil also highlighted the importance of sharing preferences with fellow members, especially when margins are as tight as they are in the 119th Congress. “Legislating is actually talking about what your preferences are,” he said. “Where are your red lines? Where is there overlap?”
The Oklahoma Republican shared a legislative win she achieved with the help of her support group and mentors. Bice encountered a local domestic violence organization struggling with funding and realized Rep. Anne Wagner (R-MO) was a staunch advocate of the issue. Together, they partnered on a bill.
Wagner and Bice unveiled bipartisan legislation earlier this year to temporarily provide additional deposits into the Crime Victims Fund. The bill now has 316 co-sponsors.
Wagner has not only offered Bice and other Republican women legislative advice but also shared a memorable piece of guidance about life on Capitol Hill. “Be nice to your feet, because these hallways are tough on your feet,” Wagner told Republican women when they first arrived on Capitol Hill. The Capitol building requires a lot of walking on hard marble floors, which are not conducive to wearing heels.
As many members look to each other for support, Rep. Ashley Hinson mentioned to the Washington Examiner that she has even taken to thrifting online for fellow members. Recently, she found jackets for longtime Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC).
“Some of my lady colleagues in the House know that I have this habit that I like to thrift and I like to thrift online and put in low bids and see if I can get them, so now I’ve actually done some shopping for them,” Hinson said. “They’ll tell me their size and what brand they like.”
These relationships and shared experiences underscore the importance of camaraderie, mentorship, and collaboration among Republican women lawmakers as they navigate the complexities of governing and serving their constituents.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/3863622/republican-women-lean-relationship-building-dysfunctional-dc/
