All In the Family

Campus Report ^ | December 7, 2007 | Bethany Stotts

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All In the Family

by: Bethany Stotts, December 07, 2007

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A new report released by Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) reveals that American political nepotism extends not just through the executive branch, but throughout Congress. The report showed that of the 535 Congressional seats (Senators and Representatives), 50 Members had relatives who served as Senators, Representatives, or Governors.

The ATR report identified 15 members, 13 from the House and 2 from the Senate, who gained their seats immediately following their relatives’ resignation, retirement, or death. Of these “legacy” Congressional seats:

• Four seats were inherited by widows
• Eight seats are inherited by sons
• Two seats are inherited by daughters
• One seat is held by the former member’s brother.

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The report exposed a considerable difference in nepotism between parties. Democrats held 32 of the identified seats (10 “legacy seats,” and 22 “indirect” seats) whereas Republicans held 18 of these seats (5 “legacy seats” and 13 “indirect” seats).

Of the 26 states identified in the report, California, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, and Colorado all had abnormally high levels of nepotism.