The 114th United States Congress, which convened Jan. 6, includes two newly elected Missouri Synod Lutherans, bringing to seven the total number of LCMS Lutherans serving in Congress. All are Republicans.
Joining the U.S. Senate is Cory Gardner, R-Colo., a former House member, and joining the U.S. House of Representatives is Glenn Grothman, R-Wis. Both were elected in November.
They join the following lawmakers, who also are members of LCMS congregations: Dr. Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.), Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) and John Shimkus (R-Ill.)
Sen. Cory Gardner, 40, was elected as a member of the U.S. Senate after serving two terms in the House. He is a former member of the Colorado House of Representatives. He majored in political science at Colorado State University and received a law degree from the University of Colorado. His family has owned a farm implement dealership for nearly a century.
Gardner and his wife, Jaime, are members of St. John Lutheran Church in Yuma, Colo. They have three children.
Before being elected to the House, Glenn Grothman, 59, served three terms in the Wisconsin Senate and was a representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1993 to 2003. An attorney, Grothman graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Grothman is a member of St. Andrews Lutheran Church in West Bend, Wis.
Posted Feb. 4, 2015
