WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues is set to enter the 120th Congress with a broad base of returning lawmakers and substantial institutional continuity following the November 3, 2026 midterm elections.
More than 75 Caucus members secured reelection, including longtime bipartisan leaders Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Brad Sherman (D-CA). While the Caucus experienced several retirements and electoral departures, including Co-Chair David Valadao (R-CA), its expansive membership ensures that Armenian-American priorities will continue to have a strong and bipartisan presence in the House of Representatives.
The election results also significantly expanded congressional relationships on Armenian issues in the U.S. Senate. Representatives Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Kevin Hern (R-OK), both members of the Armenian Caucus in the House, won election to the Senate, bringing their experience with Armenian-American issues and South Caucasus policy to the upper chamber.
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 assistance to Azerbaijan and pledged to support the peace, security, and self-determination of the Armenian people.
Several senators with established records on Armenian issues will also return to the 120th Congress. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), who has repeatedly raised the plight of Armenian prisoners held in Baku, including on the Senate floor and during the COP29 climate summit in Baku in 2024, secured reelection. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a longtime supporter of Armenian-American issues, was also reelected. In Ohio, Sherrod Brown (D-OH), who supported Armenian issues throughout his previous Senate tenure, won the special election and will return to the U.S. Senate.
This strong bipartisan foundation comes at an important juncture for U.S. policy in the South Caucasus. The 120th Congress is expected to address priorities that include strengthening Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, expanding economic and security assistance to Armenia, and scrutinizing U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan. Lawmakers will also continue to address the release of Armenian prisoners held in Baku, targeted sanctions and accountability measures, protection of Armenian cultural heritage, Armenian Genocide education and recognition, and congressional oversight of regional initiatives such as TRIPP and developments surrounding a final peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
As congressional leadership and committee assignments are finalized, early outreach to incoming lawmakers, together with sustained engagement with veteran Caucus members and supportive senators, will be important to maintaining congressional attention on Armenia, Armenian-American priorities, and U.S. policy in the South Caucasus.
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).
