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Who Chooses Experience? Examining the Use of Veteran Staff by House Freshmen

Scholars have long recognized the important role congressional staff play in promoting the effectiveness of their employers. This is especially true for new representatives, who usually have few other resources. This article examines the hiring of experienced staff by House freshmen and tests multiple hypotheses for variation in this recruitment. The data include 2,760 staff members hired by 210 freshmen who entered the House between 1981 and 1996. The analysis shows that African-American and Latino members were less likely to hire veteran staffers, while women, Republicans, and those with larger electoral margins were more likely to do so. The reasons behind these differences as well as their implications are explored, particularly for minority representatives.