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The following is a list of fictional political figures that have appeared or been mentioned in the television program The West Wing.
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United States Cabinet|The Presidents Cabinet
John Hoynes — Tim Matheson (Seasons 1–4): President Bartlet's rival for the 1998 Democratic presidential nominee, his running mate, and first Vice President. Resigned from office while under fire for leaking classified material to a woman he was having an affair with. Candidate for the Democratic nomination for the 2006 election.
Robert 'Bingo Bob' Russell — Gary Cole (Seasons 5–7): President Bartlet's Vice President after the resignation of John Hoynes and a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the 2006 election.
Jim Hohner — see Republican Representatives below.
Mark B. Sellner — John Getz: see Democratic Representatives below.
Joseph Furman — see Republican Senators below.
Lewis Berryhill — William Devane (Seasons 1–7): Was nearly nominated by President Bartlet for the office of Vice President after John Hoynes' resignation.
Mitch Bryce — Alan Dale (Ep. 4.01; 4.02; 4.23)
Carl Reed (Ep. 3.04; 3.08)
Jack Buckland (Ep. 3.03; 3.04)
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United States Federal Executive Departments|Other executive branch officials
Jeff Breckenridge: Bartlet's nominee for Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights
Martin Connelly: An Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Division at the Justice Department, working on the lawsuit against the tobacco companies.
Lesley Cryer: Bartlet's recess nominee for Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.
Bob Slatterley — Thomas Kopache: Assistant Secretary of State (Ep. 3.5; 3.15; 3.20; 3.21; 3.22; 4.3; 4.5; 4.8; 4.14; 4.17; 5.1; 5.13; 7.4; 7.5)
Albie Duncan — Hal Holbrook: Assistant Secretary of State (Ep. 3.7; 4.6)
James Elkins: Bartlet's recess nominee for Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Aviation
Gerald Wegland: Assistant Secretary of Energy
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Spokespersons
Donald Morales: Spokesperson for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Tad Whitney: State Department Spokesperson. He applied for White House deputy press secretary but C.J. chose Simon Glazer instead.
Gary Saunders: Deputy Spokesperson for the Department of Energy.
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Former Presidents of the United States
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Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats
Rep. Sheila Fields (D) House Minority Leader
Rep. John Baxley (D) (Season 4)
Rep. Benoy (D) (Ep 6.3): A homosexual, wanted to introduce a bill to ban all marriage to end the gay marriage debate.
Rep. Sue Borden (D-North Carolina) (Ep 6.1): Voted for the resolution calling on President Bartlet to act against the Palestinians after the Gaza attack. Josh says she's in a tough race with a "knucklehead" district attorney from Wake Forest.
Rep. Earl Brennan (D-Connecticut): Josh Lyman used to work for him.
Rep. Ken Campbell (D-New Hampshire)
Rep. Bertram Coles (D): Considered to be a "Blue Dog" conservative. Threatened the President during a radio interview, inviting retribution from Toby Ziegler.
Rep. Eileen Davis (D-New Jersey) Wants to run for Governor and President.
Rep. Delany (D-Delaware) (Ep. 4.8): Shown as the winner on Election Night TV broadcasts. Defeated Robertson (R) in 2002.
Rep. Tim Fields (D-Texas) Candidate for Speaker of the House after the 2006 Elections. Friend of President-elect Santos.
Rep. Diane Frost (D): On the Speaker's list for suggested cantidates for Vice President.
Rep. Carol Gelsey (D-Florida) (Season 7): Candidate to replace Leo McGarry as Vice President, Josh says she's second choice after Eric Baker. Ran for Governor in 1996 (and almost certainly lost to Robert Ritchie).
Rep. Goldman (D-Louisiana): Defeats Attie in Louisiana's 7th Congressional District in 2002.
Rep. Inboden (D-Mississippi) Reelected in Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District in 2002 over Davis (R) by 12 points.
Rep. Hootstein (D-Louisiana) (Ep.4.8): Shown as winner of the Louisiana 3rd race on Election Night TV broadcasts. Defeated Mybell (R) in 2002.
Rep. Jennsen (D) (Ep. 1.16)
Rep. Karen Kroft (D-Michigan) — Lucinda Jenney: After losing her seat in the 2002 election, she was up for Director of the National Parks service, until it was discovered that the position was Senate confirmable.
Rep. LeBrandt (D) (Ep. 1.4)
Rep. Peter Lien (D-Texas): Represents the Galveston-based Texas 22nd district. His predecessor was Jim Cor. He's 34 years old, and came to the US in 1974. His family fishes for marlin in the Galveston bay.
Rep. Jim Marino (D-Ohio) (Season 7): Longshot candidate for Speaker of the House whom President-elect Santos considers supporting. Wins reelection in 2006 over Republican Challenger Peck 61% to 36%.
Rep. Maxwell (D-Michigan): Elected to the 2nd District in 2002.
Rep. Neonakis (D-Alabama): Defeats Miller in the 7th District by 37%.
Rep. O'Bannon (D) (Ep. 1.4)
Rep. Becky Reeseman (D-Michigan) — Amy Aquino (Ep. 1.17): Attempted to add a child labor amendement to a tariff bill supported by the White House after the First Lady did a television interview condemning child labor worldwide. She was talked out of it when the First Lady promised the President's support if she ran for the US Senate from Michigan.
Rep. Reed (D-Tennessee): Reelected over Vasquez (R) by 24% in the 8th district.
Rep. Mike Satchel (D-Oregon) — Andrew Buckley (Ep. 1.19): Met with Sam and Toby over the issue of gays in the military.
Rep. Mark B. Sellner (D) — John Getz: Leading candidate for Speaker of the House following the 2006 elections. Elected Speaker of the House.
Rep. Sind (D-Massachusetts) (Ep.4.8): Defeated Handelman (R) in 2002.
Rep. Neil Spencer (D-Hawaii): Helped with an agriculture bill. Represents Honolulu.
Rep. Thiele (D-Rhode Island) — Christopher Cousins: Refuses to vote for the nomination of Bob Russell as Vice President, becoming the only member of Congress to do so. A former intern for Roland Pierce, he shows up Josh in front of Ryan when Josh tries to talk him into voting for Russell. Is finally coerced by Ryan.
Rep. Cal Tillinghouse (D-Texas) — Michael McGuire (Ep. 1.4): A moderate Democrat and strong proponent of gun rights.
Rep. Howard Van Gelt (D-North Carolina): House Minority Whip. Defeated by Brett Logan by 3%. Melanie Sanders (I) received 1%.
Rep. Christopher Wick (D) — Jay Underwood (Ep. 1.4): Friend of Josh Lyman's from college.
Rep. Janice Willis (D-Ohio) — (Ep. 1.6): Deceased representative whom was replaced by her husband, Joe Willis.
Rep. Joe Willis (D-Ohio) — Al Fann (Ep. 1.6): Temporarily replacing his wife, who died in office. Prior to this, he is an eighth-grade social studies teacher.
Rep. Woodside (D-Alaska): Reelected with 63% of the vote in 2006. Defeats Gately (R).
Rep. Zelowsky (D-Maine): Elected in 2006 in Maine's 2nd District.
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Republican Party (United States)|Republicans
Rep. Joseph Bruno (R-Pennsylvania) — James Handy (Ep. 1.13; 3.10): Apparently a member of the House Judiciary Committee, and chairman of the committee investigating President Bartlet's concealment of his multiple sclerosis. Is called by Leo McGarry "a reasonable guy" and appears to be a moderate Republican.
Rep. Cahn (R-Ohio): Defeats Jones in Ohio's 6th Congressional District in 2002.
Rep. Cameron (R) (Ep. 1.16)
Rep. Connelly (R): with Haffley and Mitchell, form what Josh Lyman refers to as the unholy trinity.
Rep. Eeling (R-North Carolina): Represents the 5th congressional district of North Carolina. Defeated Rusnak (D) by 32%.
Rep. Christopher Finn — Frank Ashmore: Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee for Armed Services.
Rep. Fay Green (R-Illinois) (Season 7): The DCCC thinks she will step down in 2008
Rep John Heffinger (R-Oregon) (Season 7): Conservative congressman Will Bailey tries to find someone to defeat him in 2008. Tony Sharkey, Ina Horton, Paul Kravitz, and Gil Silverly are potential opponents. However, it would appear that Bailey himself runs and defeats Heffinger.
Rep. Tom Landis (R-Maryland) — Matt McCoy: Liberal Republican who worked with Josh on an $18 million dollar cleanup for Chesapeake Bay that was ultimately defeated because both right-leaning Republicans and left-leaning Democrats see Landis's seat as vulnerable
Rep. Barbara Layton (R-North Carolina) — Cherry Jones: Made a floor speech naming Ellie Bartlet's supervisor, Dr. Louis Foy, as one of the researchers getting funding for research that conservatives consider objectionable.
Rep. Lillienfield (R) — Holmes Osborne (Ep. 1.9): Outed Leo as a recovering Valium addict for political gain and to embarrass the White House.
Rep. Mitchell (R): along with Connelly and Haffley, form what Josh Lyman refers to as the unholy trinity .Thought be a candidate to replace Walken as Speaker of the House
Rep. Owens (R-Missouri): Reelected in the 7th District by 17% over Nawrot (D).
Rep. Riddle (R-Florida): Defeats Foister (D) in 2002.
Rep. Ross (R): Opposed to Campaign Finance reform. Sought the Republican nomination for President in 2002.
Rep. Palmer (R-Maryland): defeats Oates (D) in 2002.
Rep. Matt Skinner (R) — Charley Lang (Ep. 1.6, 1.8, 2.7): Liberal Republican and homosexual.
Rep. Somerfold (R-Michigan): Won reelection with 64%.
Rep. Chuck Webb (R-California) (Seasons 4–5): Conservative Republican who lost to the recently deceased Horton Wilde and then faced Sam Seaborn in a special election. Webb once challenged another Representative to a fist-fight on the floor of the House of Representatives during a debate about gun control.
Rep. Whitley (R-New York)- (Ep. 4.8): Defeated Reeler (D) in 2002.
Rep. Wooden (R) (Ep. 1.15)
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Other Representatives
Rep. Tawny Cryer: Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee
Rep. Rick Pintero — Juan Garcia (Season 3): Suggested the Marriage Incentives compromise.
Rep. Quigley: Washington's 1st District
Rep. Grant Samuels (Ep. 2.3): Died of pneumonia.
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Democrats
Senator August Adlair (D)
Senator Aiello (D) (Ep. 1.16)
Senator Brainderd (D): Female
Senator Calvin Bowles (D-Kentucky): An aging moderate Democrat who wants a mobile bio lab to be put in his state, which instead went to Texas.
Senator Cambridge (D) (Ep. 1.16)
Senator Dane (D) (Ep. 1.16)
Senator Englemann (D-New Hampshire) (Ep. 4.8): Shown as the winner on Election Night television broadcasts. Defeated Waterson (R) in 2002.
Senator Fuller (D-Maine): Defeated in 2006.
Senator Gianelli (D) (Ep. 1.16)
Senator Tom Grissom (D-Washington): A grandfather who agreed to assist with the Stackhouse filibuster
Senator Grace Harding (D-Georgia): Freshman Democratic Senator in 2003.
Senator Huntington (D) (Ep. 1.16)
Senator Kelly (D) (Ep. 1.16)
Senator Ryan Lyndell (D-Massachusetts): Possible nominee for Vice President after the resignation of John Hoynes, but was not considered confirmable.
Senator Martinson (D) (Ep. 1.16)
Senator Oliom (D-Missouri): defeated Danquist (R) in 2002.
Senator Roland Pierce (D) — Mitchell Ryan: Uncle of Ryan Pierce, who was Josh's intern in Season 5. Gets both CJ and Josh drunk in the Mural Room during a discussion over filling a Supreme Court seat.
Senator Rathburn (D) (Ep. 1.16)
Senator Ricky Rafferty (D) — Mel Harris (Season 6): briefly a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2006 election.
Senator Rossiter (D) — Robert Walden: Has an ideological opposition to lawsuit against tobacco companies. Former US Attorney. On Judiciary Committee.
Senator Lloyd Russell (D) — John Bedford Lloyd (Ep. 1.2): Moderate Democrat. Potential challenger to President Bartlet in the primaries in 2002. Abandons campaign before he got started. Briefly hired and dated Mandy Hampton.
Senator Howard Stackhouse (D-Minnesota) — George Coe: 78 years old in 2001. Has an autistic grandson, and staged a filibuster to secure money for autism research. Ran a liberal third-party candidacy for the Presidency in 2002 but later endorsed President Bartlet.
Senator Starkey (D) — H.M. Wynant: On the Speaker's list for suggested cantidates for Vice President.
Senator Warren (D) — Richard McGonagle: Has an ideological opposition to lawsuit against tobacco companies. Former US Attorney.
Senator William Wiley (D-Washington): Ran against President Bartlet in the 1998 Primary campaign
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Republicans
Senator Bill Armstrong (R) Majority Whip
Senator Ford (R) (Season 2)
Senator Hammond (R) (Season 2)
Senator Matt Hunt (R-Arizona): Member of the Armed-Services committee. In 2004, he leads an investigation into questionable defense contracts, which concludes in one corrupt deal that involves the pilot who saved Leo McGary's life during the Vietnam War (Ep. 5.14). Later that year, he potentially jeopardizes relations with China by defending Tawain in a speech on the Senate floor (Ep. 6.7).
Senator. Kalmbach (R-Maryland) (Season 2): A prominent member of the tobacco lobby in Washington. During the 2002 elections, he is considered to be a major candidate, but ultimately loses in the primaries to Ritchie.
Senator Miner (R) (Season 2)
Senator Morgan Mitchell (R-Pennsylvania): Defeated Tony Marino in the 2000 mid term elections.
Senator Moseley (R-Colorado): Senate Majority Leader 1999 to 2004, opposed to a foreign aid bill in response to a poll that came out that showed a majority of Americans wanted foreign aid cut.
Senator Ramsey (R-Minnesota): Reelected in 2006. Won 52% compared to the Democratic Candidate Douglass' 40%.
Senator Stacy (R) (Season 2)
Senator Swayne (R-Rhode Island): Season 7, President-elect Matt Santos considered him for Secretary of Defense
Senator Sam Wendt (R-South Carolina): Conservative Republican who single-handedly blocked the White House's attempt to expand child care to working families. Josh calls him the Darth Vader of childcare, and referred to his latest attempts as the Moving America Back to the Mamie Eisenhower Era Amendment.
Senator Howard Weston (R): A member of the Foreign Relations Committee who is expected to move over to Judiciary because he is hoping to be appointed attorney general under the next Republican president. A candidate for 2002 Republican nomination. Was considered a "serious candidate" by President Bartlet at the start of the Primary season.
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Other Senators
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Supreme Court of the United States
Chief Justice Roy Ashland — Milo O'Shea: Aging liberal Chief Justice who resigned in 2004 and replaced by Evelyn Baker Lang, the first woman Chief Justice. Ashland joined the Supreme court in 1972, and became chief justice in 1992.
Chief Justice Evelyn Baker Lang — Glenn Close (Season 5): Replaced Roy Ashland, who resigned in 2004. A liberal appointed by President Bartlet in a deal with Senate Republicans where they got to fill the seat of the deceased Owen Brady with a conservative, Christopher Mulready.
Justice Roberto Mendoza — Edward James Olmos (Ep. 1.9; 1.15): Controversial nominee appointed by President Bartlet to replace the liberal Justice Joseph Crouch, who was not fond of the President.
Justice Christopher Mulready — William Fichtner: Conservative judge appointed by President Bartlet to replace the late conservative justice, Owen Brady. Was appointed in a deal with Senate Republicans that allowed Evelyn Baker Lang to be Chief Justice.
Justice Joseph Crouch — Mason Adams (Ep. 1.9): Aging liberal justice who retired in November 1999 and was replaced by Roberto Mendoza. Did not like President Bartlet. He began serving the year Bartlet entered college and served on the bench for 38 years, meaning he joined in 1961.
Justice Owen Brady: Young conservative who died suddenly in 2004 of a heart attack. He was described by both liberals and conservatives as a "young, brilliant mind." Replaced by Christopher Mulready, who described the Court as being at its best when "Brady was fighting Ashland."
Former Justice Weddington
Court as of 1999:
Ashland, Brady, Brannigan, Carmine, Clark, Crouch, Dreifort, Hoyt, LaFayette.
Court after 2000:
Ashland, Brady, Brannigan, Carmine, Clark, Dreifort, Hoyt, LaFayette, Mendoza.
Court after 2004:
Brannigan, Carmine, Clark, Dreifort, Hoyt, LaFayette, Lang, Mendoza, Mulready.
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Other jurists
Peyton Cabot Harrison III: His father was Eisenhower's Attorney General. A life-long Democrat, he clerked for Republican Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger and served as dean of the Harvard Law School.
Eric Hayden: Nominee to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
Sharon Day — Brady Rubin: She swore in Glen Allen Walken as Acting President on May 8, 2003.
E. Bradford Shelton — Robert Picardo: Potential nominee to the Supreme Court whose skeletons include the fact that his son once burned President Bartlet in effigy to protest military action in Saudi Arabia. Shelton is a moderate judge because he refuses to position himself on issues, preferring to decide each case on the merits.
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Central Intelligence Agency
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Federal Election Commission
John Branford Bacon (D): Nominated to the FEC by President Bartlet over the objections of the Senate Majority Leader. Favors campaign finance reform.
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Federal Reserve
Ronald Ehrlich (2000–Present)
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Governor#United States|State governors
Gabriel "Gabe" Tillman (D-California) — Ray Wise: Will Bailey wrote an acclaimed speech for Gov. Tillman. In 2006 primaries, gave tacit support for Congressman Santos, after initially planning to support former Vice President Hoynes. Mentioned in the fourth season and again in the seventh season when a nuclear power plant near San Diego comes close to meltdown.
Robert Ritchie (R-Florida) — James Brolin (Seasons 3–4): Served two terms as Governor. Republican nominee for President in 2002, defeated by the incumbant, President Bartlet. Almost certainly elected in 1996 and defeated Carol Gresley (who we know stood for Florida Governor in 1996) and served from 1997 to 2005.Succeeded by Swenson (R). Swenson is Governor by the 2006 election.
Mike Reed (R-Ohio): May have been a contender for the 2006 nomination. Gave keynote speech at the Republican National Convention, known as the "eight is enough" speech attacking the Bartlet administration (which was in its eighth year in office). Did not stand for election in 2006.
Peggy Wade (Oklahoma): President Bartlet dislikes her. The feeling is apparently mutual. Party assumed to be Republican, due to Bartlet's comment about her "affinity for tort reform and hand guns." However, in the real world there have only been three Republiclan Governors of Oklahoma, and Democrats serving in the state do tend to be more conservative.
Eric Baker (D-Pennsylvania) — Ed O'Neill: Sought Democratic nomination for President in 2006 from the floor of the convention. Withdrew after fallout due to the discovery of his lack of disclosure of his wife's depression. Nominated for (and presumably confirmed as) Vice President by President Santos following the death of Leo McGarry.
Edward Pratt (R-Tennessee) — Doug Ballard: Meets with the President to discuss increasing instances of arson against the black churches in his state around Christmas 2001. Still Governor in 2005 when he found out about a top-secret deal where the country of Georgia offered the US uranium and threatened to leak it publicly since he was opposed to it.
Hutchins (D-Michigan): defeated Parsons (R) in 2002. (4.8)
Halley (R-Ohio): Elected in 2006, defeated Fishman (D) by 2%. Succeeded Mike Reed (R).
Atkins: Maybe be the same Atkins mentioned on a number of occasions who sought the Dem nomination for President in 2006.
Swenson (R-Florida): Helped get out the vote for Vinick in 2006. Replaced Robert Ritchie as Governor almost certainly in 2004.
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Other state-level politicians
Richard Sutter, California Assemblyman
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Local government of the United States
Jimmy Fitzsimmons: Won the 2002 Boston Mayor's race by 51 points.
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Party leaders
Chairman of the Democratic Party
Chairman of the Republican Party
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Christian right
Reverend Al Caldwell — F. William Parker: Prominent religious leader who, unlike his associates (like Mary Marsh and John Van Dyke), is respectful of and respected by members of the Bartlet administration
Mary Marsh — Annie Corley: Associate of Rev. Al Caldwell who has a mutually shared antagonism with members of the Bartlet administration, especially Josh Lyman
John Van Dyke — David Sage: Associate of Rev. Al Caldwell. Famously misquoted the First Commandment as saying "Honor thy father" (Ep. 1.1)
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Ambassadors from the United States|United States ambassadors
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Ambassadors to the United States|Foreign ambassadors to the United States
Vigdis Olafsdottir, Ambassador from Iceland (Ep. 2.12)
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Leaders
Rahmadi Sumahidjo Bambang, Deputy to President Siguto of Indonesia
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Other officials
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See also
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Notes
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