Meet DC’s New Power Spouses as Democrats Seize Control

A historic Democratic surge reshaped the U.S. House and Senate overnight, bringing a new generation of political figures—and the partners who supported them—into the national spotlight.

After months of relentless campaigning, Abdul El-Sayed, Chris Pappas, James Talarico and other Democratic candidates saw their efforts pay off Tuesday as voters delivered decisive victories.

El-Sayed, 42, made history by becoming the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate after defeating Republican and Donald Trump-backed candidate Mike Rogers.

Pappas, 46, won the Senate race in his home state of New Hampshire, becoming the first openly gay man elected to the chamber.

In Texas, 37-year-old Talarico flipped a Senate seat for Democrats, marking the party’s first victory in the state’s Senate race since 1988.

Behind each candidate stood a partner who shared the pressure, sacrifice and emotional highs of the campaign—and who found themselves in the spotlight on election night.

Here are the couples at the center of Washington’s newest political power circle following the 2026 midterm elections.

Abdul El-Sayed & Dr Sarah Jukaku

Abdul El-Sayed, 42, made history as the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate after defeating Republican and Trump-backed candidate Mike Rogers

His wife, Dr Sarah Jukaku, supported him throughout the campaign and joined him after his victory. The couple met at the University of Michigan and have two daughters

El-Sayed’s wife, psychiatrist Dr Sarah Jukaku, remained beside him throughout the Senate campaign and joined him on stage after his victory.

The couple met while studying at the University of Michigan and were profiled by The Michigan Daily in 2006.

In that interview, Jukaku recalled that El-Sayed proposed while she was still a freshman.

“I was young, and one of the things he said was, ‘We’re still growing, now we can grow together,’” she said at the time.

El-Sayed explained that, because of his Islamic faith, he had always expected to marry at a young age.

“Islamically, there are no premarital relations of any sort. No touching, no nothing. Given that, the logical solution is to get married,” he said.

The Senate-elect added: “I was going to meet one girl and I was going to marry her. In some senses, I feel like that’s the purest form of a relationship with someone. It cuts out all the B.S.”

Both were active in the University of Michigan’s Muslim Students’ Association.

According to El-Sayed’s campaign website, he and Jukaku live in Ann Arbor with their daughters, Emmalee and Serene.

Chris Pappas, 46, won the Senate race in his home state of New Hampshire, becoming the first openly gay man elected to the Senate. His husband, Vann Bentley, joined him on stage Tuesday night

Pappas and Bentley became engaged in December 2021 and married on February 4, 2023, at the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

Jukaku was born in Michigan to Indian immigrant parents, while El-Sayed was raised in southeast Michigan by his Egyptian immigrant father and stepmother, Jackie.

Jukaku studied sociology and Near Eastern studies before completing a master’s degree at the University of Oxford. She later earned her medical degree from Columbia University.

El-Sayed also attended Columbia and Oxford for medical studies, but he did not complete a residency and is not a licensed practicing physician.

During his victory remarks Tuesday night, El-Sayed called Jukaku to the stage as supporters applauded.

“Sarah, thank you, thank you for everything. There is no doing this without you, and I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else. I love you, and I am so grateful,” he said.

Chris Pappas & Vann Bentley

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Pappas is married to Vann Bentley, an attorney whose work focuses on technology policy, cybersecurity and privacy, according to Lighthouse Recruitment.

The couple announced their engagement in December 2021 and married on February 4, 2023, at the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, the outlet reported.

At the time of their wedding, Pappas was serving in the U.S. House representing New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District.

Although the couple generally keeps their professional lives separate, Pappas made sure Bentley was recognized during his election night speech.

Bentley stood beside his husband as Pappas thanked supporters and celebrated the result.

Bentley works as an attorney specializing in technology policy, cybersecurity and privacy. While they maintain separate professional lives, he and Pappas have publicly supported one another

“I want to thank the guy next to me, my amazing husband, Van,” Pappas said as the couple embraced.

As the crowd continued cheering for Bentley, Pappas joked: “Alright, the wrong person was on the ballot, apparently. But he’s always been by my side, and look, tonight, win, lose or draw, I’m the luckiest guy because I’m married to a man that I love.”

He continued: “And despite all the negative attacks and the lies, it’s nice to know that love and truth prevailed tonight.”

James Talarico & Brianna Menard

Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race and is now headed to Washington, D.C., with his longtime girlfriend, Brianna Menard.

The couple met while Menard was serving as Talarico’s chief of staff, he said during an appearance on The Jamie Kern Lima Show. His campaign later confirmed the account to The New York Times.

“Four years ago, after he and his then-chief of staff developed feelings for each other and started dating, she left the office to pursue other opportunities,” a spokesperson told the Times.

Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in Texas’ Senate race and will now head to Washington, D.C., with his longtime girlfriend, Brianna Menard, pictured together Tuesday

After leaving Talarico’s office, Menard joined the staff of state Rep. Salman Bhojani, the first Muslim member of the Texas Legislature.

She later became Bhojani’s chief of staff, Talarico said in 2023.

Menard now serves as director of the Texas Medical Association Political Action Committee, or TEXPAC, according to the organization’s website.

During the campaign, Menard became part of a political dispute after Paxton claimed that Talarico was vegan.

Talarico rejected the claim, while his spokesperson clarified that Menard—not the candidate—is vegan.

“James is not and never has been a vegan, much to his girlfriend’s chagrin. As the saying goes, true love conquers all,” the spokesperson told the New York Post.

On The Jamie Kern Lima Show, Talarico also discussed his efforts to shield the people closest to him from the harshest parts of political life.

Talarico said he met Menard while she was his chief of staff during an appearance on The Jamie Kern Lima Show; his campaign later confirmed the relationship to The New York Times

Menard currently leads the Texas Medical Association Political Action Committee, or TEXPAC, according to the organization’s website

“What I’m trying to do is protect her and my family and my friends from the impacts of this race, because I signed up to run for the U.S. Senate.”

“Obviously, they did not, and so I’m trying to balance running this race while also protecting them and protecting her in particular,” he said.

Talarico did not mention Menard during his election night victory speech, but he has previously described her as his “best friend” and his “rock.”