As he starts his sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 3, Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, will have a prominent role when legislation is written and discussions take place with the Republican leadership.
As the newly elected chair of the New Democrat Coalition, a 108-member center-left group of Democrats known for using bipartisanship to pass legislation, Schneider said he will work with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y, and other members of the leadership team.
“It’s a role of leadership,” Schneider said Thursday. “I’ll have a seat at the table together with the leaders, Hakeem Jefferies, Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar, when we make decisions on legislation. I will be with them when we work with our Republican colleagues to reach common ground.”
Schneider was elected chair of the New Democrat Coalition on Wednesday in Washington, earning more votes from his colleagues in the group than U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kan., as he continues to represent the 10th Congressional District, which includes much of Lake County.
“I feel relieved,” Schneider said. “I didn’t feel like I was running against someone. She is a colleague and a friend. We were seeking the same office.”
As Schneider works with other leaders of both parties, residents of the 10th District will have a representative at the table, which has not happened in many years. Schneider said the last time was nearly a quarter-century ago when former Rep. John Porter, R-Glenview, represented the area chairing a caucus.
“In a role of leadership, I will be an ear at the table for the 10th District,” Schneider said. “I have several lenses. There is the 10th District, then the state of Illinois, and then the nation overall. The first is the 10th District (whose people) elected me to represent them.”
With 108 members and potentially two more — five of the 2024 contests remain undecided — the New Democrat Coalition is the largest caucus of members. Outgoing chair, U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., said the group’s pragmatism is more important than ever. Schneider is well-positioned to lead, she said.
“During a time when pragmatic, common-sense leaders are needed more than ever, I couldn’t be happier that my friend and colleague Brad Schneider will be guiding New Dems,” Kuster said in an email.
First elected to Congress in 2012, defeating then Rep. Robert Dold, R-Kenilworth, in a close race, Schneider lost to Dold two years later. Schneider won the third contest between the two in 2016, and has represented the district since.
Returning to Congress in 2016 and every two years since, Schneider said he faced a similar situation eight years ago to what he does now, with the Republicans controlling the presidency and both houses of Congress. Calling the 10th District a “thoughtful district,” he hopes it will help now, too.
“Representing the district has given me credibility in Congress with my colleagues,” Schneider said. “I said eight years ago when I won, having lost in 2014 and won in 2016 — and Trump won during what was a Republican trifecta like we have now — I said in my victory speech that the 10th District was sending a message to the rest of the country that there was a different way to govern.”
Now the Republican majority in the House is smaller, and could shrink even more with the Republicans winning 218 seats and the Democrats 213, with five contests still being counted.
“We’ve cut into a very narrow margin,” Schneider said. “Hopefully we can work together to pass bipartisan legislation. A bipartisan solution is almost always the best approach.”
