Suozzi Led House in Staff Educational Rankings
A new report analyzed the academic backgrounds of congressional staff members across the House and Senate.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Higher Education
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Representative Tom Suozzi maintains the highest-ranked staff education level among members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The findings were detailed in a report published on September 26, 2026.
Why it matters
The analysis highlights the variation in academic credentials among the teams supporting federal legislators in Washington. These rankings provide insight into the professional composition of staff offices across the 535 total members of Congress.
A U.S. House member typically employs 14 to 18 personal staffers, while a U.S. senator employs 35 to 50. LegiStorm calculates these rankings using an average score that weights advanced degrees, such as PhDs, more heavily than bachelor's or master's degrees.
The players
Tom Suozzi
He is a U.S. House representative whose district is located on Long Island.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
She is a U.S. House representative whose staff holds the third-highest education ranking in Congress.
Kirsten Gillibrand
She is a U.S. senator whose staff ranks 20th out of all 535 members of Congress.
LegiStorm
This organization monitors and analyzes data regarding congressional staff and legislative operations.
The details
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez secured the third-ranked staff education level in Congress, while Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's staff ranked 20th among all 535 members. Other representatives including Andrew Garbarino, Charles Schumer, Laura Gillen, and Nick LaLota also saw their offices categorized based on their staff's academic credentials.
Timeline
The report on congressional staff education rankings was published on September 26, 2026.
Culture Shift
This story follows a pattern set by the LegiStorm congressional staff education ranking methodology to provide a quantitative assessment of staff credentials. It illustrates the growing focus on professional academic metrics within the high-stakes environment of federal legislative offices.
These rankings provide voters with a snapshot of the academic qualifications found within their representative's office. Understanding these credentials can offer insight into the professional resources available to legislators as they draft and review national policy.
The takeaway
Staff composition in Congress serves as a measurable indicator of the academic pedigree that legislators prioritize. Understanding these team structures helps the public identify how congressional offices are professionally organized.
Further reading
For more context on academic trends, see our Higher Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Newsday.
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