The NBC drama The West Wing mostly covers Josiah Bartlet's time in office and as the Democratic Party POTUS goes about his daily activities, he interacts with all kinds of politicians. The most common kinds of lehislators portrayed on the show are senators and while all are competitive, some distinguish themselves as better characters than the rest.
Among the things that make these senators stand out are their achievements, their policies, their drive, and their general intellect. These individuals are never content with just showing up at the US Capitol. They always look at the bigger picture, with some even bowing to their ambitions and running for the most coveted office.
Vinick serves as the California Senator before running for President under the Republican ticket. He ultimately becomes President Matthew Santos' Secretary of State.
Leaders ought to be popular and there is evidence that Vinick is loved by the masses since he garners 6.9 million votes during his run for Senate, a record at the time. He also gets reelected 3 times, a confirmation that voters are very satisfied with the job he is doing. And instead of simply chasing after basic policies, Vinick targets serious issues, such as affordable healthcare and the welfare of retiring Americans.
Despite Lobell being portrayed as a powerful senator, the state he hails from is never mentioned. Most of his arcs revolve around his close friendship with President Josiah Bartlet.
Lobell often comes off as a reasonable man. Despite being a Republican, he doesn't spend most of his time trying to oppose Bartlet, who is a democrat. He also plays a great role in pushing for the Federal Election Commission's financial reform. Most importantly, he refuses to be granted any special favors in exchange for supporting the President. This shows he is not only content but also that he is in politics to serve, not to engage in power games. And Among the things fans don't know about President Bartlet in The West Wing is that his friendship with Lobell would never have existed since he was initially meant to appear in only 4 episodes.
Royce serves as the senator for Pennsylvania during President Bartlet's time in office. He goes on to serve as the Senate Majority Leader and while in this position, he becomes a cog in many ongoing developments including the vetting of a new Vice President after John Hoynes' resignation.
Royce is the stereotypical strict senator who does his best to ensure everything is in order. He is keen to uncover scandals and punish those involved. He doesn't take matters to heart either, such that when he misses out on the Vice Presidential nomination despite being lobbied for heavily. he easily accepts the outcome and goes back to doing his usual job.
The Democratic senator's story is covered when he chooses to run for President in 2002. He is said to be extremely good at raising money and also ranks highly on the opinion polls. He ultimately drops his bid in exchange for being made a major power player in the Democratic party.
Russel is idiosyncratic because he appeals to different groups of people. He is said to be popular with the Hollywood elite, middle-class Black men, teachers unions, and white suburban women. He knows how to make deals that benefit him too. A great example is his threat to run for President because he is popular. This makes those in power seek to appease him and make him cool off, and that means offering him incentives.
Hoynes serves as the Texas senator before choosing to run for President. He eventually ends up as Bartlet's Vice President, a position he serves for one term.
Hoynes's standout trait is his great business acumen. He starts out as a lawyer before venturing into the oil industry where he makes most of his fortune. He is shown to care about preserving employment opportunities since as a member of the Senate Committee, he shoots down laws that would make workers in the oil industry lose their jobs. He is not one to brag about his achievements either since refuses to talk about his role in social security reform during his run for President.
The Minnesota senator holds his position for 5 terms, making him one of the longest-serving senators on the show. He considers legendary politician Hubert Humphrey his greatest hero too.
Like Vinick, Stackhouse's lengthy stint as Senator shows that the voters totally believe in his ability to get the job done. He cares a lot about people with autism since he pleads with Deputy White House Chief of Staff Josh Lyman to preserve a fund meant for people suffering from the disease. Stackhouse's level of ambition is unrivaled too. He believes in himself so much that he runs for President on a 3rd party ticket, yet it's historically proven that 3rd party candidates rarely win.
President Bartlet's decision to run for a second term is one of the most shocking stories from The West Wing and it's around this time that Rafferty joins the Senate. Later, during the 2006 Democratic primary, she throws her hat in the ring.
While she is not exactly likable, Rafferty is skilled in how to maneuver the corridors of power. During her campaigns, she models her healthcare plan after the president's, making it seem like he is rooting for her yet that isn't the case. She is also bold and is hardly the numerous egotistical men who dominate the political arena. Her resilience is illustrated when she refuses to pull out before the South Carolina primaries as ordered.
Gillette is introduced to the show as North Dakota's Junior Senator. During the Blue Ribbon Committee saga, he threatens to run for presidency too but is offered a major role to make him cool his interest.
In the cutthroat world of American politics, special benefits come to those who go after them and Gillette understands this well. After learning that he has the support of the religious community, he uses that to his advantage. Suggesting that he is opposed to Blue Ribbon is only a way for him to get himself involved in it since he knows how powerful the members are. Gillette might not be aggressive but he sure knows how to play his cards right.
Wiley is the only character to start out as Governor before becoming a Senator. In 1992, he is elected Washington Senator, garnering 61% of the total votes.
Wiley's ambition is also his defining trait since he runs for President against Bartley after completing two terms as Senator. There's no doubt that he loses to the better man. His inclusion in Bartlet's VP shortlist proves that he is a man that can be counted on to not hold grudges. Unfortunately, he doesn't manage to get the position.
Keenitz is first introduced as Bartelt's Deputy Secretary of Agriculture during President Bartlet's first term in office. He then runs for Senator of Iowa and wins.
Keenitz's contributions to the agricultural sector are well documented. His troubled childhood is his motivating force since he grew up on a farm where basic tools weren't present. As a US senator, he thus makes it his mission to help pass several bills that benefit the agricultural sector. His work is rewarded a couple of years later when President-Elect Matthew Santos' appoints him as Secretary of Agriculture.
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