34 images that defined 2019 in Congress: Photos of the Year

Congress

34 images that defined 2019 in Congress: Photos of the Year

A busy year as captured by CQ Roll Call’s photojournalists

By Bill Clark, Caroline Brehman, and Tom Williams

Posted December 23, 2019 at 9:00am

We asked each of our three photojournalists to select their favorite photographs from 2019. Below is their unique view of political news events in Washington, as well as daily life on and around Capitol Hill.

You can also listen along to the photo staff discuss the stories behind some of these photos in the Political Theater podcast:

BREHMAN’S PICKS | Caroline Brehman started at Roll Call as a photo intern in May and was hired as a full-time staff photographer in August. She previously served as the photo intern at the Las Vegas Review-Journal after graduating from Elon University. Here are her photos of 2019:

UNITED STATES - JUNE 14: Ben Haskell, 11, participates in the ‘Commander-in-Tweet’ exhibit as he wears a President Trump wig at The Daily Show with Trevor Noah’s The Donald J. Trump Presidential Twitter Library attraction in Washington on Friday June 14, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call) — Ben Haskell, 11, participates in the ‘Commander-in-Tweet’ exhibit at “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah’s Donald J. Trump Presidential Twitter Library” attraction in Washington on June 14.

UNITED STATES - JUNE 24: Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., listens as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a news conference to discuss major college affordability legislation in Washington on Monday June 24, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call) — Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., listens as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a news conference outside of the Capitol to discuss college affordability legislation on June 24.

UNITED STATES - JUNE 26: Rep. Denver Riggleman, R-Va., rolls over on his head as he field a ground ball during the 58th annual Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park on Wednesday June 26, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call) — Rep. Denver Riggleman, R-Va., tumbles as he fields a ground ball during the 58th annual Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park on June 26.

UNITED STATES - JULY 2: A visitor stands in front of temporary fencing installed along the National Mall as set up continues for President Donald Trump's 'Salute to America' event honoring service branches on Independence Day at the Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday July 2, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call) — A girl stands on July 2 in front of the temporary fencing installed along the National Mall for President Donald Trump’s “Salute to America” event that took place July 4 at the Lincoln Memorial to honor the military service branches.

UNITED STATES - AUGUST 18: Fairgoers stand with their trophies after competition in the championship round of the Mutton Bustin’ competition at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday August 18, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call) — Kids stand with their trophies after competing in the championship round of the Mutton Bustin’ competition at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 18.

UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 4: A man skateboards outside of Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call) — A man does a handstand as he skateboards past the Capitol on Sept. 4.

UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 11: Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., center, talks with Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Ga., left, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Fla., Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., and Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., on the House east front steps of the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday September 11, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call) — Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., center, talks with Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Ga., left; Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas; Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Fla.; Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y.; and Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., after the Sept. 11 memorial ceremony on the House steps of the Capitol.

UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 16: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., departs from a press conference after the Senate Republicans’ lunch in the Capitol on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., departs a press conference after the Senate Republicans’ lunch in the Capitol on Oct. 16.

UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 19: A quote is displayed on a monitor from a phone call between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky as Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, director of European affairs at the National Security Council, and Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, testify during the House Intelligence Committee hearing on the impeachment inquiry of President Trump in Longworth Building on Tuesday, November 19, 2019. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call) — A quote is displayed on a monitor from a phone call between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, director of European affairs at the National Security Council, and Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, testify during the House Intelligence Committee hearing on the impeachment inquiry of Trump in Longworth House Office Building on Nov. 19.

UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 20: Gordon Sondland, U.S. ambassador to the European Union, arrives to testify before the House Intelligence Committee during a hearing on the impeachment inquiry of President Trump in Longworth Building on Wednesday, November 20, 2019. Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, also testified. (Photo by Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call) — Gordon Sondland, U.S. ambassador to the European Union, arrives to testify before the House Intelligence Committee during a hearing on the impeachment inquiry of President Trump in Longworth House Office Building on Nov. 20.

WILLIAMS’ PHOTOS | Tom Williams started with Roll Call in 1999 as an intern and is now the senior staff photographer. He has won numerous photo awards, including the 2018 Political Photo of the Year at the White House News Photographers Association “Eyes of History” photo competition. Here are his photos of 2019:

UNITED STATES - JANUARY 03: Incoming Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., receives the gavel from outgoing House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in the Capitol's House chamber before she was sworn in on the first day of the 116th Congress on January 3, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) — Incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., receives the gavel from outgoing House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in the House chamber before she was sworn in on the first day of the 116th Congress on Jan. 3.

UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 05: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., top center, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., bottom center, pose for a group photo of House Democrats in the Capitol Visitor Center, who plan to wear — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., top center, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., bottom center, pose for a group photo of House Democrats in the Capitol Visitor Center, who planned to wear “suffragette white” to the State of the Union address on Feb. 5 to show solidarity for women’s agendas.

UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 08: Members react as acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker informs Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., his five minute questioning period was over, during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in Rayburn Building titled — Members react as acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker informs House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., his five-minute questioning period was over, during an oversight hearing Feb. 8 on the Department of Justice. Appearing from left are Reps. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.; Nadler; Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash.; Jamie Raskin, D-Md., and ranking member Doug Collins, R-Ga.

UNITED STATES - APRIL 3: Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., stands as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg mentions that his mother was born in Paterson, N.J., during a joint meeting of Congress in the Capitol's House Chamber on Wednesday, April 3, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) — Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-N.J., stands as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg mentions that his mother was born in Paterson, N.J., during a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber on April 3.

UNITED STATES - MAY 20: President Donald Trump throws a MAGA hat to the crowd during a rally at the Williamsport Regional Airport in Montoursville, Pa., on Monday, May 20, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) — President Donald Trump throws a Make America Great Again hat to the crowd during a rally at the Williamsport Regional Airport in Montoursville, Pa., on May 20.

UNITED STATES - JUNE 19: Hope Hicks, the former White House communication director, is seen during a closed-door interview with the House Judiciary Committee about their investigation of President Trump and the Robert Mueller report on Wednesday, June 19, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) — Hope Hicks, the former White House communications director, is seen on June 19 during a closed-door interview with the House Judiciary Committee about their investigation of President Donald Trump and Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s report.

UNITED STATES - AUGUST 31: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg prepares to take the stage for a discussion during the Library of Congress National Book Festival at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, August 31, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) — Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg prepares to take the stage for a discussion during the Library of Congress National Book Festival at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Aug. 31.

UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 10: Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., attends a ceremony in the Capitol’s Emancipation Hall to mark the “the 400th anniversary of the first-recorded forced arrival of enslaved African people,” on Tuesday, September 10, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) — Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., attends a ceremony on Sept. 10 in the Capitol’s Emancipation Hall to mark the 400th anniversary of the first-recorded forced arrival of enslaved African people.

UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 24: The casket of the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., is carried through the Capitol Rotunda to Statuary Hall for a memorial service on Thursday October 24, 2019. His remains will lie in state outside the House Chamber. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call), — The casket of the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., is carried through the Capitol Rotunda to Statuary Hall for a memorial service on Oct. 24.

UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 02: Fans cheer for the Washington Nationals along Constitution Avenue during a parade to celebrate the World Series champions on Saturday, November 2, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) — Fans cheer for the Washington Nationals along Constitution Avenue during a parade to celebrate the World Series champions on Nov. 2.

UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 15: Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, left, and Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., make their way to a vote in the Capitol on Friday, November 15, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) — Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, left, and Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., make their way to a vote in the Capitol during a break in the House Intelligence Committee impeachment inquiry hearing on Nov. 15.

UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 21: Fiona Hill, former National Security Council Russia adviser, testifies during the House Intelligence Committee hearing on the impeachment inquiry of President Trump in Longworth Building on Thursday, November 21, 2019. David Holmes, counselor for political affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, also testified. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) — Fiona Hill, former National Security Council adviser on Russia, testifies during the House Intelligence Committee hearing on the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump in the Longworth House Office Building on Nov. 21.

UNITED STATES - DECEMBER 10: Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and his wife, Marcelle, are in the Capitol’s Ohio Clock Corridor after the Senate Policy luncheons on Tuesday, December 10, 2019. The portrait is an 1873 painting of Massachusetts senator Charles Sumner by Walter Ingalls. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) — Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and his wife, Marcelle, hold hands in the Ohio Clock Corridor after the Senate policy luncheons on Dec. 10. The portrait above is an 1873 painting of Massachusetts Sen. Charles Sumner by Walter Ingalls.

CLARK’S SELECTIONS | Bill Clark came to Roll Call in the summer of 2000 as a freelance photographer and returned as a staff photographer in 2006. He now serves as photo editor. He has won awards in the White House News Photographers Association “Eyes of History” and Pictures of the Year competitions. Here are his photos of 2019.

UNITED STATES - JANUARY 3: Architect of the Capitol employee Gary Bullis hangs the new sign at the entrance to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's office suite after she was elected Speaker on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) — Architect of the Capitol employee Gary Bullis hangs the nameplate at the entrance to Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office suite after she was elected speaker on Jan. 3.

UNITED STATES - JANUARY 22: Capitol officials (checking with AOC on IDs/confirmation they are AOC officials) appear to check for signs of water dripping in the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday morning, Jan. 22, 2019. The Architect of the Capitol office attributed the water to condensation accumulating on the window arches due to the extreme cold. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) — Capitol officials check for signs of water dripping in the Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 22. The Architect of the Capitol office attributed the water to condensation accumulating on the window arches due to the extreme cold.

UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 5: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.,walks through Statuary Hall to the House chamber for President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address to a joint session of Congress in the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) — Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., walks through Statuary Hall to the House chamber for President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the Capitol on Feb. 5.

UNITED STATES - MARCH 26: Kevin Harris stands outside of the Russell Senate Office Building directing AIPAC conference attendess to the Senate buildings on Tuesday, March 26, 2019. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) — Kevin Harris stands outside of the Russell Senate Office Building directing AIPAC conference attendees to the various Senate office buildings for their lobby day on March 26.

UNITED STATES - APRIL 3: Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, lead the procession of Senators through the Capitol rotunda to the House chamber for the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, April 3, 2019. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) — Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, lead the procession of senators through the Capitol rotunda to the House chamber for NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s address to a joint session of Congress on April 3.

UNITED STATES - MAY 23: Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and chef Jose Andres hug after running into each other in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Thursday, May 23, 2019. Andres was on Capitol Hill for a briefing held by the Power 4 Puerto Rico Coalition, calling on Congress to help Puerto Rico achieve future growth and prosperity after the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) — Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and chef José Andrés hug after running into each other in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on May 23. Andrés was on Capitol Hill for a briefing held by the Power 4 Puerto Rico Coalition, calling on Congress to help Puerto Rico achieve future growth and prosperity after the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria.

UNITED STATES - JULY 11: A thunderstorm passes over the U.S. Capitol building on Thursday, July 11, 2019. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) — A thunderstorm passes over the U.S. Capitol building on July 11.

UNITED STATES - JULY 23: Jon Stewart, former host of The Daily Show, smiles as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., walks by at the Ohio Clock Corridor in the Capitol on Tuesday, July 23, 2019. The Senate will be voting later today on HR 1327: Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) — Jon Stewart, former host of “The Daily Show,” smiles as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., walks by at the Ohio Clock Corridor in the Capitol on July 23. The Senate voted later in the day to pass a permanent authorization of the Sept. 11 victim compensation fund.

UNITED STATES - JULY 30: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., leaves the Capitol via the carriage entrance to attend the Senate Republicans’ policy lunch at the National Republican Senate Committee on Tuesday, July 30, 2019. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., leaves the Capitol via the carriage entrance to attend the Senate Republicans’ policy lunch at the National Republican Senate Committee on July 30.

UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 26: A coalition of progressive activist groups, including MoveOn.org, hold a rally at the Capitol calling on Congress to impeach President Trump on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) — A coalition of progressive activist groups, including MoveOn.org, hold a rally at the Capitol calling on Congress to impeach the president on Sept. 26.

UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 17: Capitol workers lower the flag to half staff after the passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) — Capitol workers lower the flag to half staff after the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., on Oct. 17.

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