Now that the 2026 midterm elections — and their historic gains for progressives — are over, the 2028 presidential contest is underway, which is why all eyes are on AOC and other young lawmakers who are expected to shape Democrats’ agenda. Photo: *Logan Michael for Ask a Pol*

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA)
1. Current role:
  1. Ranking Member, House Oversight Committee
2. Expected role in 120th Congress:
  1. Chair, House Oversight Committee
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP interviews with Garcia:
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
1. Current role:
  1. Minority Leader, US Senate
2. Expected role in 120th Congress:
  1. Majority Leader, US Senate*
    * Keep an eye out for growing unrest with Schumer and the old Democratic guard; there’s increasing chatter that Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen is quietly wooing progressives like Sen.-elects Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and James Talarico in Texas…
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP interviews with Schumer:
Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN)
1. Current role:
  1. 2nd most senior Democrat, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI)
2. Expected role in 120th Congress:
  1. Chair, Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation
    1. Has jurisdiction over the FAA
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP exclusive interviews with Carson:
AOC — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
1. Previous roles:
  1. Founder, the so-called Squad
  2. Vice Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Accountability
2. Current role:
  1. Member, Energy and Commerce Committee
    1. AOC statement after changing committees:
      “The Energy and Commerce Committee has the power to guarantee health care as a human right to all Americans, fight the global crisis of climate change, and make life easier for the working class. The next few years are sure to be challenging, but Democrats must maintain our commitment to fighting for working people, not billionaires. That work goes directly through the Energy and Commerce Committee, and I can’t wait to get to work,” reads Ocasio-Cortez’s press release from January 2025.
3. Expected role in 120th Congress:
  1. AOC — progressive Queenmaker?
    1. Clout chaser: Fresh off crisscrossing battleground states, rallying a new generation of progressives from Michigan to Texas during the 2026 midterm elections, AOC gained a lot of street cred. with more moderate Democrats, including party leaders
  2. Favorite foil for new right pundits and politicians alike
    1. Pull the party left: With expanded ranks of The Squad, AOC’s seen as a thought/movement leader in today’s increasingly progressive Democratic Party.
      1. FLASHBACK:
        Back in 2018, during her first few weeks in Washington, AOC joined a climate protest in former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office, which shocked, angered and alienated the Democratic Party’s old guard — many of whom retired or were primaried out of office in the midterms.
    2. Political watchers are going to scrutinize her every move, especially when she tries to pull Democratic leaders further to the left.
4. Notable Ask a Pol UAP interviews with AOC:
  1. “They give you a hard time,” AOC complains it’s harder to get SCIF briefings since leaving Oversight (6-25-2026)
  2. EXCLUSIVE — AOC on David Grusch: “The allegations of reprisal and culture is actually a primary concern” (2-1-2024)
  3. SNEAK PEAKS: Post- SCIF EXCLUSIVES w/ AOC, Biggs, Garcia, Mace, Waltz & Krishnamoorthi (SUBSCRIBER-ONLY THANK YOU!) (1-12-2024)
  4. EXCLUSIVE — AOC mum after classified UAP briefing: “Sorry, I’m a girl scout about these things” (10-27-2023)
  5. EXCLUSIVE—AOC: If you want more UFO hearings, let Oversight Chair Comer know (7-26-2023)
    What should we ask Congress next!?!?!
Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO)
1. Current role:
  1. Champion, UAP Disclosure Act
  2. Unofficial liaison between UAP Caucus, FBI’s Special Investigations Group (SIG) and White House advisor Stephen Miller
2. Expected role in 120th Congress:
  1. Champion, UAP Disclosure Act
  2. Unofficial liaison between UAP Caucus, FBI’s Special Investigations Group (SIG) and White House advisor Stephen Miller
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP exclusives interviews with Burlison:
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Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) — member, Congressional UAP Caucus
1. Current role:
  1. Member, Congressional UAP Caucus
2. Expected role in 120th Congress:
  1. Member, Congressional UAP Caucus
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP exclusive interviews with Moskowitz:
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)
1. Current role:
  1. Vice Chair, Senate Intelligence Committee
2. Expected role in 120th Congress:
  1. Chair, Senate Intelligence Committee
  2. BACKGROUND
    1. Warner’s skeptical to dubious of the UFO topic, but his staff vetted Grusch, which is still classified, last we heard.
    2. The former Governor of Virginia — along with Sen. Tim Kaine — has also been pressing the Pentagon for answers since Langley Air Force Base was shuttered by UAP incursions for 17 days back in 2023.
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP interviews with Warner:
Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) — top Democrat, House Intelligence Committee
1. Current role:
  1. Ranking Member, House Intelligence Committee (HPSCI)
2. Expected role in 120th Congress:
  1. Chair, HPSCI
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP exclusive interviews with Himes:
  1. SCOOP: HPSCI leaders weren’t part of UAPDA negotiations; Ranking Dem hasn’t seen UFO files (7-23-2026)
  2. HPSCI Ranking Member laughs off UFO disclosure: “I would love the public to see what I’ve seen” (3-26-2026)
  3. Chair Comer, Speaker Johnson likely blocked UAP Caucus from SAPs, top HPSCI Dem says (6-26-2025)
  4. “I don’t know a thing about it,” HPSCI Ranking Member Himes says of FBI’s UFO unit (6-6-2025)
  5. AskaPOLL: Which new Ask a Pol exclusive should we drop next? Rounds, Himes, Ogles or Turner... (6-6-2025)
    1. Unreleased exclusives coming with Sen. Rounds, Ranking Member Himes, Rep. Ogles & a grumpy, disgraced Ohioan...
  6. HPSCI Ranking Member Himes on Grusch: “I took very seriously some of the allegations” (3-27-2025)
  7. Rep. Jim Himes says HPSCI’s investigated UAPs “a lot,” never JFK: “there’s a sh*t-ton on UAP” (2-26-2025)
  8. Rep. Jim Himes dismisses Senate UAP hearing w/ AARO: “Senators need to get briefed and then move on” (6-26-2024)
  9. Jim Himes: “Congress isn’t investigating” incursions over sensitive military sites (4-19-2024)
  10. EXCLUSIVE — Top Dem on House Intel on gutting of Schumer UAP in NDAA: “I don’t think it was us” (2-7-2024)
  11. EXCLUSIVE — Jim Himes, Top Dem on Intel: “I’m not aware of anything UAP related” (10-18-2023)
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Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA)
1. Current role:
  1. Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee (HASC)
  2. Member, Four Corners
    1. Senate, House Armed Service Committee Chairs & Ranking Members
      1. One of whom seems to annually gut the UAP Disclosure Act when the NDAA’s negotiated behind closed doors; according to bill sponsor Sen. Mike Rounds, the opposition comes from the House.
2. Expected role in 120th Congress:
  1. Chair, House Armed Services Committee
  2. Member, Four Corners
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP interview with Smith:
  1. “Sorry, what are we talking about? What’s that?” Rep. Adam Smith pressed Ask a Pol. “I don’t know what that means.”
    ‘UAP’ is the new ‘UFO.’
    “Okay,” Smith replied. “I have a vague memory of it, but I don’t know the specifics.”
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
1. Current role:
  1. Chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC)
2. Expected role in 120th Congress:
  1. Member, Senate Intelligence Committee
  2. Member, Senate Armed Services Committee
    1. Member, Subcommittees on Cybersecurity, Emerging Threats and Capabilities, & Strategic Forces.
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP exclusive interviews with Gillibrand:

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)

Current role:
1. Minority Leader, US House of Representatives
Expected role in 120th Congress:
1. Speaker, US House of Representatives
Notable Ask a Pol UAP interview with Jeffries:
1. Have you looked into David Grusch’s claims? “No,” House Minority Leader Jeffries tells Ask a Pol (4-17-2024)

ICYMI — Ask a Pol & incoming House Speaker

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD)

Current role:
1. Lead sponsor, UAP Disclosure Act (UAPDA)
Expected role in 120th Congress:
1. Co-sponsor, UAP Disclosure Act
Notable Ask a Pol UAP exclusive interviews with Rounds:
1. Ask a Pol UAP informs Sen. Mike Rounds that his UAPDA is included in House NDAA (8-6-2026)
2. Sen. Rounds: UAP Disclosure Act can work “in tandem” with White House declassification (6-10-2026)
3. “I thought it was House” — Sen. Rounds doesn’t know who killed his UAPDA (again) (12-18-2025)
4. “It’s not really secret,” Sen. Rounds responds to WSJ report of false flag UFO program (6-18-2025)
5. “Really?” Sen. Rounds surprised Secrets Task Force only just learned of FBI UFO unit (6-5-2025)
6. Sen. Rounds: Secrets Task Force good for Luna, House GOP: “Better than having them looking for things to get into” (3-14-2025)
7. Sen. Rounds on UAPs around military sites: “we’re not sure where they’re coming from” (3-22-2024)
8. EXCLUSIVE — Sen. Rounds laughs off retirement message from AARO’s Kirkpatrick “maybe he sees something that we don’t know” (11-8-2023)
9. Sen. Rounds didn’t know UFO whistleblower David Grusch on eve of dropping UFO bill with Schumer (7-13-2023)
  1. “Rounds tells Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo he wasn’t familiar with UAP whistleblower David Grusch while crafting the UAP Disclosure Act with Senate Minority Leader Schumer.”
10. EXCLUSIVE: Schumer UAP amendment co-author, Rounds “non-human intelligence” includes AI (7-20-2023; Subscriber Question)
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13. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
1. Current role:
  1. Ranking Member, House Judiciary Committee
2. Expected role in 120th Congress:
  1. Chair, Judiciary Committee
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP interviews with Raskin:
  1. EXCLUSIVE — Rep. Jamie Raskin says UFO investigation “a far more valuable use of our time then this faux impeachment investigation” (9-14-2023)
    1. Ep. 56 — Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on House Oversight, left the July 26 hearing with more questions for whistleblower David Grusch
  2. Jamie Raskin open to Select UAP Committee, says “it would be up to the Republicans” (3-22-2024)
  3. EXCLUSIVE—Jamie Raskin is studying UFOs: “I’m a real newcomer to the field” (7-26-2023)
    Share
14. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN)
1. Current role:
  1. Co-chair, Congressional UAP Caucus
2. Expected role in 120th Congress:
  1. Find Ask a Pol on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram!
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP interviews with Burchett:
15. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL)
1. Current role:
  1. Chair, Task Force on the Declassification of Secrets
2. Expected role in 120th Congress:
  1. UNKNOWN:
    1. Fate of Secrets Task Force remains a mystery…
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP interviews with Luna:
  1. The FBI’s UFO unit — “Special Investigations Group” — minted commemorative UAP coins (9-1-2026)
    We forget which Ask a Pol UAP subscriber mocked up this side-by-side of the FBI’s UAP commemorative coins, but it’s much appreciated. Thank you! (ping us and happy to credit you!)
  2. New UAP Caucus gag rule? “We’re not going to be dropping any leaks,” Co-chair Luna tells Ask a Pol (9-17-2025)
  3. NEWS: Luna threatens Pentagon subpoena over UFO records; still hasn’t called Hegseth’s cell (4-16-2026)
  4. “That’s JD’s opinion,” Luna distances herself from Vance’s “demons” comments (April 2026)
  5. UAP whistleblowers “weren’t willing to testify,” Secrets Task Force Chair Luna tells Ask a Pol (7-15-2025)
  6. “I think that’s bullsh*t,” Secrets Task Force Chair Luna on WSJ UFO report (6-11-2025)
  7. SCOOP: Luna says Secrets Task Force secured 6-month extension (5-22-2025)
  8. “Makes us reconsider AARO,” Secrets Chair Luna says after FBI UAP briefing (5-15-2025)
  9. Luna says UAP Caucus “working on doing something with USO” for next public House hearing — Underwater Submerged Objects (5-1-2024)
  10. EXCLUSIVE — Rep. Luna says UAP Caucus holding field hearing next (1-31-2024)
  11. EXCLUSIVE — Rep. Luna says UFO investigation on despite “hectic” speaker drama (10-24-2023)
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16. Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK)
1. Current role:
  1. Majority member, Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation
2. Expected role in 120th Congress:
  1. Minority member, Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation
3. Ask a Pol UAP exclusive interviews with Begich:

A few members to keep an eye on…

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA)

“I’d love to continue to be involved,” Senator Schiff told Ask a Pol.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

“My staff is obsessed with [UFO]!” he told Ask a Pol UAP in 2023.
Engaged during New Jersey “drone” incursions; still pressing FAA for answers.

Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ)

“I don’t know what is going on right now,” Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) tells Ask a Pol.
Does this raise more questions for FAA and Pentagon officials?
“Look, I’ve been pressing our government writ large in terms of just our ability to detect drones, be able to distinguish them from other aircraft and think through counter-drones,” Kim says. “So I’m just only getting the headlines in terms of what we’re hearing. We’ll get some more details.”

Sen. John Fetterman

“I absolutely support the releasing all of the possibility and any kinds of information on UFOs. I believe in that,” Fetterman — who continues recovering from a stroke that’s impacted his speaking — exclusively told Ask a Pol.

Sen. John Boozman

”I think it’s kinda neat that [the UAP Caucus is] pushing it,” Boozman told Ask a Pol UAP.

UAP Caucus (& Caucus-adjacent) members

Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) — fmr. Chair, House Inteligence Committee
1. Reason for retirement:
  1. Upset in general election, after 12 terms representing Ohio’s Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
2. Replacement:
  1. Anyone know where she is on disclosure or Wright-Patterson lore?
3. Ask a Pol UAP exclusive interviews with Turner:
  1. Campaign Finance Deep Dive: The curious case of Jim Himes, Mike Turner & HPSCI’s opposition to UFO inquiries (9-20-2023)
  2. Former Intel Chair Mike Turner runs from Ask a Pol’s questions about the Pentagon’s UFO files (9-16-2026)
    1. Ep. 493 — “You know we’re not doing this,” Mike Turner tells Ask a Pol UAP.
  3. “Turner, best of luck in his endeavors,” UAP Caucus Co-chair says good riddance to fmr. Intel chair (1-16-2025)
  4. With Mike Turner out, Rep. Timmons says House Intel “will start looking into [UAP] more” (1-16-2025)
  5. House Intel. Chair Mike Turner afraid to take questions about UAPs from press corps (9-27-2023)
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) — Member, Congressional UAP Caucus
1. Reason for retirement:
  1. Lost South Carolina’s gubernatorial primary.
2. Replacement:
  1. Rep.-elect Nancy LaCore
    1. “Navy admiral fired by Hegseth flips Mace’s South Carolina seat” — The Hill
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP interviews with Mace:
Rep. James Comer (R-KY) — outgoing Chair, House Oversight Committee
1. Reason he’s retiring his gavel:
  1. “Term-limited in role, Kentucky’s Comer to not seek another term as House Oversight chair,” writes McKenna Horsley for the Kentucky Lantern (part of States Newsroom).
2. Replacement — reshuffling of the Oversight Committee:
  1. Stay tuned…
    1. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH)
      1. Next in line, seniority-wise, to replace Comer as top Republican on Oversight
      2. Running to replace outgoing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as House Republican Minority Leader
    2. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH)
      1. If Jordan becomes GOP leader, Turner was next in line to replace Comer
      2. Turner’s loss further shakes up the makeup of the Oversight Committee in the 120th Congress in January
        Six Republican members of House Oversight are leaving Congress in January.
        Election returns still being counted for Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Co.
        Source: House Oversight Committee
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP interviews with Comer:
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Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) — Chair, Conservative Opportunity Society
1. Reason for retirement:
  1. Lost South Carolina’s gubernatorial primary.
    1. Random factoid we found:
      “As of November 2026, with a net worth of $63.73 million, Norman is the 25th wealthiest member of Congress” — Wikipedia
2. Replacement:
  1. Rep.-elect Wes Climer (R-SC)
    1. Experience — Congressional aide:
      1. Fmr. Financial Services Committee Chair Patrick McHenry
      2. Fmr. US Senator Elizabeth Dole
      3. Outgoing Senator Bill Cassidy
    2. Background: “On June 9, 2025, Climer and his attorney, former South Carolina Senator Dick Harpootlian, sued the State of South Carolina over their vote in the 2025 state budget to give themselves pay raises, which they stated is in violation of the State constitution.” — Wiki
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP interview with Norman:
  1. “It’s been portrayed by the media as crazies that are identifying unidentified flying objects, but it’s not,” Norman exclusively told Ask a Pol UAP. “[Lue Elizando] has been doing this 30-some years. Combat veteran. Very qualified. I’m gonna have him back. In fact, we may open it up. Everybody ought — y’all ought to know it — everybody should.”
    “I heard he corroborated what the whistleblower, David Grusch, testified to this summer?” Laslo inquired.
    “Absolutely,” Norman* replied to Ask a Pol. “Yes.”
    * Norman hosted Elizondo at Conservative Opportunity Society
    Share
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) — member, Congressional UAP Caucus
1. Reason for retirement:
  1. Lost Republican primary.
2. Replacement:
  1. Rep.-elect Charlie Hatcher (R-TN)
    1. Experience:
      1. Dairy farmer.
      2. Former Commissioner of Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
    2. Background:
      “Hatcher’s victory keeps District 5 red for a third term after lawmakers redrew the former Nashville district in 2022 to eliminate the city’s Democratic seat in Congress. Lawmakers redrew the map again in May so that it no longer touches Nashville or the hometown of either candidate. Redistricting moved Hatcher and Molder from the 5th Congressional District into the 9th, but they both continued their campaigns for the 5th under new state rules that suspended residency requirements for candidates.” — Marianna Bacallao, WPLN
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP exchanges with Ogles:
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) — Ranking Member, Secrets Task Force
1. Reason for retirement:
  1. Lost Texas Democrat’s US Senate primary to now Senator-elect James Talarico (D-TX).
2. Replacement:
  1. Rep.-elect Frederick Haynes (D-TX)
    1. Senior pastor, Friendship-West Baptist Church (Dallas)
3. Notable Ask a Pol UAP interviews with Crockett:
  1. Jasmine Crockett’s open to a Select UFO Committee if Democrats win election (9-22-2026)
    Find us on YouTube!
  2. “We have a very interesting figure that is currently in the White House, and I think I'm uniquely suited to kind of be the opposition to him,” Crockett told Ask a Pol UAP founder Matt Laslo (June 2025).

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ICYMI — Ask a Pol & incoming House Speaker

A few members to keep an eye on…

— NOTABLE RETIREMENTS —

UAP Caucus (& Caucus-adjacent) members

— PSA —

Ask a Pol post-election guide: How will…