As they take office, new Bay Area congressmembers pledge to bring bold solutions and protect their diverse constituencies

Following a tense vote on the House floor to re-elect U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson as Speaker, the Louisiana Republican swore in the 119th Congress on Friday afternoon, including the Bay Area delegation’s newest members: Sam Liccardo and Lateefah Simon.

Liccardo and Simon — both Democrats — begin their careers on Capitol Hill at a time when Republicans narrowly control Congress and Donald Trump begins his second term in the White House on Jan. 20.

Liccardo, the former mayor of San Jose...