24 of 61 New Members of Congress Have Small Business Backgrounds

According to SBA's Office of Advocacy, over one-third of the new members of Congress have some small business background. See below the list of new lawmakers who have an entrepreneurial background.

U.S. Senate - 111th Congress

- Mark Begich (D-Alaska), property development company owner.

- Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), computer repair company owner.

- Jim Risch (R-Idaho), lawyer, rancher, and former trailer company owner.

- Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), former jewelry store owner.

- Mark Warner (D-Virginia), telecommunications and technology venture capitalist.

U.S. House of Representatives - 111th Congress

- Steve Austria (R-Ohio, 7th District), financial services firm owner.

- Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah, 3rd District), public relations firm owner.

- Mike Coffman (R-Colorado, 6th District), founded two property management companies and a leasing firm.

- Kathy Dahlkemper (D-Pennsylvania, 3rd District), landscape architecture business owner.

- John Fleming (R-Louisiana, 4th District), physician; sandwich shop owner.

- Alan Grayson (D-Florida, 8th District), first president of a phone services company; investor in small companies.

- Parker Griffith (R-Alabama, 5th District), physician; owner of a funeral home and a nursing home; real estate developer.

- Brett Guthrie (R-Kentucky, 2nd District), vice president of family owned automobile die-casting business.

- Suzanne Kosmas (D-Florida, 24th District), real estate company owner.

- Chris Lee (R-New York, 26th District), executive of family-owned shock absorber manufacturing business.

- Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Missouri, 9th District), co-owner and manager of family-owned bank and insurance agency; rancher.

- Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming, At Large), manages family ranch operation.

- Betsy Markey (D-Colorado, 4th District), ice cream and coffee shop owner; web services company owner.

- Walt Minnick (D-Idaho, 1st District), founder of gardening retailer chain.

- Chellie Pingree (D-Maine, 1st District), inn and restaurant owner; former owner of knitting and craft business; farmer.

- Jared Polis (D-Colorado, 2nd District), Internet entrepreneur and venture capitalist; at-risk charter schools founder.

- Kurt Schrader (D-Oregon, 5th District), small business owner; veterinarian; farmer.

- Aaron Schock (R-Illinois, 18th District), real estate developer and home improvement company owner.

- Harry Teague (D-New Mexico, 2nd District), oil well services company owner.