Only 45 congressional offices, 15 Democratic and 30 Republican, have never had a former lobbyist on staff, a LegiStorm analysis shows.
In Congress, the lines between lobbyist and staffer often blur as aides move with ease between Capitol Hill and K Street. Forty-two representatives and three senators have so far avoided the revolving door, and all were elected in the past five years.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Sen. John Walsh (D-Mont.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) stand alone in the Senate for never hiring lobbyists on their staffs, though Kaine and Warren have both employed former lobbyists on a campaign, committee or other organization outside of Congress.
Of the 45 who have never had lobbyists work for them in Congress, 38 are not known to have ever employed a lobbyist outside of Capitol Hill, according to LegiStorm's records.
A much larger portion of the Senate and House offices, 311, do not currently have a revolving door lobbyist on staff. They are split nearly evenly between the parties, with 143 Democrats, 167 Republicans and one Independent.
Among offices with the fewest all-time lobbyists, only three members elected before 2000 have employed two or fewer lobbyists on their congressional staffs. Rep. Eni Faleomavaega of American Samoa has had one, while Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) and Rep. Rick Nolan (D-Minn.) have hired two each.
On the opposite side, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) takes the lead with most all-time lobbyists on staff at 46 while both the Senate minority and majority leaders have slots in the top five. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is second with 45 all-time, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is third with 42, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is fourth with 41 and Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is fifth with 40.
Search LegiStorm's revolving door data here.
