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Armenian Caucus Members Overwhelmingly Re-Elected; Two Caucus Members Elected to U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. - With the results of the 2026 midterm elections coming in, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) welcomes the overwhelming re-election of Members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, congratulates Armenian Caucus Members Reps. Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Kevin Hern (R-OK) on their election to the U.S. Senate, and looks forward to working with the newly elected Members and leadership of the 120th Congress.
At the time of press, 76 of the 92 Armenian Caucus Members seeking re-election to the House had won, with 11 races yet to be called — an 82.6% success rate. Historically, incumbents are rarely defeated: over the last five election cycles, an average of 94% of House incumbents seeking re-election were returned to office, according to the Brookings Institution's Vital Statistics on Congress.
The Assembly congratulates Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Brad Sherman (D-CA) on their re-election. Co-Chair David Valadao's (R-CA) race in California's 22nd District had not been called at press time.
"The Assembly congratulates Members of the Armenian Caucus on their election day victories, and especially Representatives Pappas and Hern on their election to the Senate,” said Assembly Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan. “Securing the release of the Armenian hostages held in Baku, upholding Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, and strengthening Armenia’s security and energy independence will be at the top of our agenda in the 120th Congress. The bipartisan leadership of the Caucus has been crucial to advancing US policy on these issues as we look forward to building on that record with returning and newly elected Members alike."
In New Hampshire, Armenian Caucus Member Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), a consistent supporter of Armenian issues in the House, defeated former Senator John E. Sununu (R-NH) in the U.S. Senate race. Sununu's financial disclosure listed a personal holding of up to $5 million in Anglo Asian Mining, a company that operates in Azerbaijan. In Oklahoma, Armenian Caucus Member Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) was elected to the U.S. Senate.
In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed (D-MI) was elected to the U.S. Senate, succeeding retiring Senator Gary Peters. During the campaign, El-Sayed publicly criticized open-ended U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan and pledged to stand up for the peace, security, and self-determination of the Armenian people. The Assembly looks forward to working with Senator-elect El-Sayed.
The Assembly also congratulates returning Senate friends on their re-election, including Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), who has repeatedly raised the plight of the Armenian hostages held in Baku, including on the Senate floor and in person at the COP29 climate summit in Baku in 2024, and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a longtime supporter of Armenian issues. The Assembly further welcomes Senator-elect Sherrod Brown (D-OH), a strong supporter of Armenian issues during his previous tenure, back to the U.S. Senate.
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) on the Senate floor, June 2024, calling for the release of the Armenian hostages held in Baku.
The following Armenian Caucus Members won their respective House races:
Mike Rogers (R-AL), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Lou Correa (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Vince Fong (R-CA), Laura Friedman (D-CA), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Josh Harder (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Scott Peters (D-CA), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), George Whitesides (D-CA), Jason Crow (D-CO), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Jim Himes (D-CT), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Bill Foster (D-IL), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Richard Neal (D-MA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Rob Menendez (D-NJ), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Susie Lee (D-NV), Dina Titus (D-NV), George Latimer (D-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Grace Meng (D-NY), Joseph Morelle (D-NY), Paul Tonko (D-NY), David Joyce (R-OH), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Gabe Amo (D-RI), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Pat Fallon (R-TX), Don Beyer (D-VA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Adam Smith (D-WA).
Re-elected / Projected — 76 | |||||
Mike Rogers (R-AL) | Ro Khanna (D-CA) | Jason Crow (D-CO) | Jim McGovern (D-MA) | Rob Menendez (D-NJ) | Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) |
Paul Gosar (R-AZ) | Mike Levin (D-CA) | Joe Neguse (D-CO) | Richard Neal (D-MA) | Donald Norcross (D-NJ) | Brendan Boyle (D-PA) |
Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA) | Ted Lieu (D-CA) | Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) | Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) | Co-Chair Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) | Madeleine Dean (D-PA) |
Salud Carbajal (D-CA) | Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) | Jim Himes (D-CT) | Lori Trahan (D-MA) | Christopher Smith (R-NJ) | Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) |
Judy Chu (D-CA) | Tom McClintock (R-CA) | Co-Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) | Jamie Raskin (D-MD) | Susie Lee (D-NV) | Gabe Amo (D-RI) |
Lou Correa (D-CA) | Kevin Mullin (D-CA) | Nikema Williams (D-GA) | Chellie Pingree (D-ME) | Dina Titus (D-NV) | Seth Magaziner (D-RI) |
Jim Costa (D-CA) | Scott Peters (D-CA) | Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) | Debbie Dingell (D-MI) | George Latimer (D-NY) | Joaquin Castro (D-TX) |
Vince Fong (R-CA) | Co-Chair Brad Sherman (D-CA) | Bill Foster (D-IL) | John Moolenaar (R-MI) | Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) | Pat Fallon (R-TX) |
Laura Friedman (D-CA) | Lateefah Simon (D-CA) | Mike Quigley (D-IL) | Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) | Gregory Meeks (D-NY) | Don Beyer (D-VA) |
Robert Garcia (D-CA) | Linda Sánchez (D-CA) | Brad Schneider (D-IL) | Betty McCollum (D-MN) | Grace Meng (D-NY) | Rick Larsen (D-WA) |
Josh Harder (D-CA) | Mark Takano (D-CA) | Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) | Ilhan Omar (D-MN) | Joseph Morelle (D-NY) | Adam Smith (D-WA) |
Jared Huffman (D-CA) | Juan Vargas (D-CA) | Katherine Clark (D-MA) | Deborah Ross (D-NC) | Paul Tonko (D-NY) | |
Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) | George Whitesides (D-CA) | Stephen Lynch (D-MA) | Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) | David Joyce (R-OH) | |
Elected to U.S. Senate — 2 | Not Yet Called — 11 | Defeated — 5 | Retired — 10 | Sought Other Office — 4 | Lost Primary — 1 |
Chris Pappas (D-NH) | Ken Calvert (R-CA) | Kevin Kiley (I-CA) | Julia Brownley (D-CA) | David Schweikert (R-AZ) — Governor | John Larson (D-CT) |
Kevin Hern (R-OK) | Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) | Thomas Kean Jr. (R-NJ) | Darrell Issa (R-CA) | Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) — Senate | |
Young Kim (R-CA) | Mike Lawler (R-NY) | Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) | Seth Moulton (D-MA) — Senate | ||
Doris Matsui (D-CA) | Max Miller (R-OH) | Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) | Haley Stevens (D-MI) — Senate | ||
Dave Min (D-CA) | Bryan Steil (R-WI) | Danny Davis (D-IL) | |||
Jay Obernolte (R-CA) | Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) | ||||
Luz Rivas (D-CA) | Steny Hoyer (D-MD) | ||||
Mike Thompson (D-CA) | Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) | ||||
Co-Chair David Valadao (R-CA) | Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) | ||||
Tom Suozzi (D-NY) | Michael McCaul (R-TX) | ||||
Joe Wilson (R-SC) |
While Armenian Caucus Members were overwhelmingly re-elected, several Members — Reps. Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ), Kevin Kiley (I-CA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Max Miller (R-OH), and Bryan Steil (R-WI) — did not win re-election. The Assembly thanks them for their support of Armenian issues during their service in the House and looks forward to meeting with Representatives-elect Rebecca Bennett (D-NJ), Richard Pan (D-CA), Cait Conley (D-NY), Brian Poindexter (D-OH), and Mitchell Berman (D-WI).
The following Armenian Caucus Members' races had yet to be called at the time of press:
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair David Valadao (R-CA) and Reps. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Dave Min (D-CA), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Luz Rivas (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), and Joe Wilson (R-SC).
Following Proposition 50 redistricting, Armenian Caucus Members Reps. Young Kim (R-CA), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Ken Calvert (R-CA), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, faced each other in California's new 40th District. That race had not been called at press time.
The Assembly extends its appreciation to the following Armenian Caucus Members, who are retiring from public office this year and who have strong records on Armenian issues: Reps. Julia Brownley (D-CA), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Danny Davis (D-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), and Michael McCaul (R-TX). The Assembly especially thanks Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who, as Speaker, brought H.Res.296 affirming the Armenian Genocide to the House floor in 2019 and led the first-ever visit to Armenia by a sitting Speaker in 2022. The Assembly likewise thanks former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who has stood shoulder to shoulder with the Armenian American community throughout his nearly five decades in Congress.
The Assembly thanks Caucus Members Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Seth Moulton (D-MA), and Haley Stevens (D-MI), who sought election to the U.S. Senate, and Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), who sought election as Governor of Arizona, for their support during their service in the House. The Assembly salutes Rep. John Larson (D-CT), who was defeated in a primary election earlier this year, for his long record of support on pro-Armenian legislative priorities, and remembers Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), who passed away in March 2025.
The Assembly also congratulates Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) on her re-election. Governor Hochul has a strong record on Armenian issues: at the Armenian Bar Association's Public Servants Dinner in New York on April 30, 2025, where she was honored, she issued a proclamation declaring April 24 Armenian Remembrance Day in New York State.
Governor Kathy Hochul, right, receives framed award from Souren Israelyan of the Armenian Bar Association. Photo: Armenian Mirror-Spectator.
The Assembly further congratulates Governor Maura Healey (D-MA) and Governors-elect Xavier Becerra (D-CA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), all of whom have records of support on Armenian issues, along with Governors-elect Phil Weiser (D-CO) and Amy Acton (D-OH). Governor Healey, who headlined the Assembly’s Celebration of Service gala in Boston this June, has reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s commitment to teaching the Armenian Genocide in Massachusetts schools and urged an end to Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh.
Governor Maura Healey headlines the Assembly’s Celebration of Service, Boston, June 6, 2026.
With Democrats having won majorities in both the House and the Senate, the Assembly, as it has with every Congress since 1972, looks forward to working with the incoming leadership of both chambers and with Members on both sides of the aisle. The Assembly welcomes all newly elected Representatives to learn more about the issues facing Armenian Americans and invites them to join the Armenian Caucus when the 120th Congress convenes in January.
The Armenian Caucus, which was founded in 1995 by Rep. Pallone and then-Congressman John Porter (R-IL), is a bipartisan body of elected officials who have played a critical role in the House of Representatives on all-encompassing issues that positively impact the Armenian people and Armenia, including humanitarian assistance for Armenia and Artsakh, U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, strengthening U.S.-Armenia relations, and addressing the ongoing aggression by Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a strictly non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
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NR # 2026-39
