The Surreal Existence of Jeff Chiesa, New Jersey's Accidental Senator

Jeff Chiesa had been a U.S. senator for less than an hour when he was called to the floor for his first vote. Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont introduced a measure on June 10 that sought to expand broadband service in rural areas—the ins and outs of which it’s fair to say Chiesa hadn’t spent much time pondering. A Republican lawyer, he was attorney general of New Jersey until GOP Governor Chris Christie appointed him to temporarily occupy the seat of Democrat Frank Lautenberg, who died on June 3.

There was no shortage of colleagues willing to help Chiesa make the right decision on the broadband proposal. Leahy greeted him with warm congratulations and leaned in for a quiet talk, only to see him snatched away by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The Kentucky Republican summoned an aide to have a private chat with the Senate’s newest member, and Chiesa disappeared into the cloakroom off the Senate floor as one by one Republicans headed to the front of the chamber to vote “no.” When Chiesa emerged a few minutes later, he was immediately surrounded by well-wishers who shook his hand and clapped his back until an aide urged him to cast his ballot. Pausing to shake hands with both Senate clerks, Chiesa registered his vote: “No.”