Freshman members of Congress, particularly the newest female lawmakers, are leading the way on Capitol Hill in how they run their offices and serve constituent needs.
The Congressional Management Foundation announced Thursday the finalists for its Democracy Awards and nine people in their first terms — the most in the three years the awards have been handed out — made the cut.
Seven women are among the finalists, again the most in the short history of the awards, which honor members of Congress for their work in four categories: constituent service; workplace environment; transparency and accountability; and innovation and modernization.
Also for the first time, two members were chosen as finalists in two categories — prominent first-term House Democrats Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, an icon of the progressive movement, and Donna Shalala of Florida, who was Health and Human Services secretary in the Clinton administration.
"Now, more than ever, Americans need to hear about examples of their government officials performing at their best," said foundation CEO Bradford Fitch.
A committee, made up mostly of former members and staffers, will choose one Republican and one Democrat as winners in each category. The winners will be announced in a few months.
Here are the finalists:
Constituent Service
Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill.
Rep. Kendra Horn, D-Okla.
Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass.
Rep. Donna Shalala, D-Fla.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas
Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Penn.
Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va.
Workplace environment
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
Rep. Donna Shalala, D-Fla.
Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont.
Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb.
Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich.
Transparency and accountability
Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa.
Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Ariz.
Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas
Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas
Rep. Van Taylor, R-Texas
Innovation and modernization
Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif.
Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas
Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ga.
Rep. Rob Woodall, R-Ga.
Lorraine Marquez Eiler’s photo of her great-great grandparents and her great-grandparents, who would walk about 50 miles through the Sonoran Desert to the springs.
Construction equipment is seen near the U.S.-Mexico border just west of the Lukeville port of entry on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. Credit: Stephanie Casanova
Rep. Adelita Grijalva, left, and Tohono O’odham Chairman Verlon Jose listen as Lorraine Marquez Eiler, a Hia-C’ed O’odham elder, shares how her ancestors would hold ceremonies at Quitobaquito Springs. Grijalva visited the springs with tribal leaders on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. Credit: Stephanie Casanova
Sara Mae Williams, Justice of the Peace in Ajo and a Tohono O’odham citizen, shares their concerns regarding border wall construction on Tohono O’odham land at a town hall at the Ajo Plaza Rec Hall on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. Credit: Stephanie Casanova
