It’s been about a week since we published the online version of Washingtonian‘s biennial “Best & Worst of Congress” survey. From best dressed to most clueless to meanest, our superlatives invited Capitol Hill underlings to beatify or bash their bosses.
The awards, both flattering and damaging, seemed to sail by all but the most Twitter-savvy members of Congress, although we would have expected to see something from Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican whose grammar-averse, stream-of-concious-like social media profile managed to nab top honors for both “Tweet Master” and “Tweet Fail.”
A few members paused from their busy fundraising schedules to take notice of the honorifics. Democratic dean John Dingell enjoyed being named the wisest member of the House, while his fellow Michigander, Republican Justin Amash, was quizzical about being branded lobbyists’ worst enemy. Colorado Democrat Jared Polis, however, took umbrage at being named one of the House’s sloppiest dressers.
Our survey also caused publications in our winners’—and losers’—home states to spill some ink of their own on their representatives’ infamy. The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Kentucky was pleased Senators Mitch McConnell (workhorse) and Rand Paul (rising star) rate so well. Our favorite piece about the “Best & Worst” survey might be one from the Houston Chronicle, which backed up Representative Sheila Jackson Lee‘s repeat performance as the meanest member of the House with a gallery of horror stories from thrown cell phones to inserting herself into funeral speaking programs.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
The Best Reactions to the Best & Worst of Congress
See how well members of Congress took the results of our survey.
It’s been about a week since we published the online version of Washingtonian‘s biennial “Best & Worst of Congress” survey. From best dressed to most clueless to meanest, our superlatives invited Capitol Hill underlings to beatify or bash their bosses.
The awards, both flattering and damaging, seemed to sail by all but the most Twitter-savvy members of Congress, although we would have expected to see something from Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican whose grammar-averse, stream-of-concious-like social media profile managed to nab top honors for both “Tweet Master” and “Tweet Fail.”
A few members paused from their busy fundraising schedules to take notice of the honorifics. Democratic dean John Dingell enjoyed being named the wisest member of the House, while his fellow Michigander, Republican Justin Amash, was quizzical about being branded lobbyists’ worst enemy. Colorado Democrat Jared Polis, however, took umbrage at being named one of the House’s sloppiest dressers.
Our survey also caused publications in our winners’—and losers’—home states to spill some ink of their own on their representatives’ infamy. The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Kentucky was pleased Senators Mitch McConnell (workhorse) and Rand Paul (rising star) rate so well. Our favorite piece about the “Best & Worst” survey might be one from the Houston Chronicle, which backed up Representative Sheila Jackson Lee‘s repeat performance as the meanest member of the House with a gallery of horror stories from thrown cell phones to inserting herself into funeral speaking programs.
Find Benjamin Freed on Twitter at @brfreed.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
Most Popular in News & Politics
Meet DC’s 2025 Tech Titans
The “MAGA Former Dancer” Named to a Top Job at the Kennedy Center Inherits a Troubled Program
White House Seriously Asks People to Believe Trump’s Letter to Epstein Is Fake, Oliver North and Fawn Hall Got Married, and It’s Time to Plan Your Apple-Picking Excursion
Scott Bessent Got in Another Argument With a Coworker; Trump Threatens Chicago, Gets Booed in New York; and Our Critic Has an Early Report From Kayu
Trump Travels One Block From White House, Declares DC Crime-Free; Barron Trump Moves to Town; and GOP Begins Siege of Home Rule
Washingtonian Magazine
September Issue: Style Setters
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
These Confusing Bands Aren’t Actually From DC
Fiona Apple Wrote a Song About This Maryland Court-Watching Effort
The Confusing Dispute Over the Future of the Anacostia Playhouse
Protecting Our Drinking Water Keeps Him Up at Night
More from News & Politics
5 Things to Know About “Severance” Star Tramell Tillman
See a Spotted Lanternfly? Here’s What to Do.
Patel Dined at Rao’s After Kirk Shooting, Nonviolent Offenses Led to Most Arrests During Trump’s DC Crackdown, and You Should Try These Gougères
How a DC Area Wetlands Restoration Project Could Help Clean Up the Anacostia River
Pressure Grows on FBI Leadership as Search for Kirk’s Killer Continues, Kennedy Center Fires More Staffers, and Spotted Lanternflies Are Everywhere
What Is Free DC?
Manhunt for Charlie Kirk Shooter Continues, Britain Fires US Ambassador Over Epstein Connections, and Sandwich Guy Will Get a Jury Trial
Can Two Guys Ride a Rickshaw over the Himalayas? It Turns Out They Can.