You Must Remember…Connie Morella

“People Have Lost Their Trust in Congress”

—Connie Morella

Morella, 84, is a former US representative who served Maryland’s 8th Congressional District from 1987 to 2003. She was elected eight times despite being a Republican—a moderate one—in a district that consisted mostly of liberal Montgomery County. Still in public service, she sits on a handful of boards and teaches a seminar on women in politics at American University.

“I loved Congress. I’m still a political junkie. I chair the Franklin Center, which does outreach work with members of Congress. I work on what I think they need—getting to know each other. When they do that, they can disagree, but they listen to each other. I once did a fellowship at Harvard, where I taught a class—‘An Endangered Species: The Moderate in the US House of Representatives.’ I’d have to say now it’s an extinct species. I hope we can get the middle back. I have to chuckle when people say, ‘You’re the only Republican I ever voted for.’”

Sherri Dalphonse

Editor in chief

Sherri Dalphonse joined Washingtonian in 1986 as an editorial intern, and worked her way to the top of the masthead when she was named editor-in-chief in 2022. She oversees the magazine’s editorial staff, and guides the magazine’s stories and direction. She lives in DC.