NPR: Okay, You’re a California Congressman…Now Hire a Staff

Democratic Congressman Mark Takano of Riverside didn’t have any Sacramento staff to call upon. In his previous job, he taught school. His first post-swearing-in lesson in American politics: you have to choose sides even when nobody elected you. You’re either a Republican staffer or a Democratic staffer. You stay that way your entire working life. This presents a challenge for Takano, who represents a county that Republicans have represented for a couple of decades.