Rahm Emanuel may have left Congress for the White House, but he’s still working hard to stay close to House Democrats.
The incoming White House chief of staff made the rounds in Washington Tuesday, stopping by celebrations hosted by old colleagues and Democratic freshmen. Emanuel went to Rep. Chris Van Hollen’s (D-Md.) bash in the Capitol and a host of swearing-in parties held elsewhere, including ones for first-term Democratic Reps. Jared Polis (Colo.), Betsy Markey (Colo.), Steve Driehaus (Ohio), Jim Himes (Conn.) and John Adler (N.J.), according to Democratic sources.
Emanuel gave a short 3-minute speech on behalf of Van Hollen, who succeeded him as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said one person at the party.
“He basically recognized Chris’s leadership and talked about how he ws going to be playing an important role in working with the incoming Obama administration,” said the partygoer.
Van Hollen celebrated the new, expanded Democratic majority the House Ways and Means Committee room.
In just one night, Emanuel also showed up at the Library of Congress for Adler’s bash, at the Hyatt Regency for a party for Markey and Polis, and at the Hawk ‘n’ Dove for Driehaus’s party.