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Capitol Hill

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Democrats

    Jackie 

Jacqueline "Jackie" A. Sharp

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sharp_jacqueline_5.jpg

Portrayed By: Molly Parker

A congresswoman from California and military veteran tapped by Underwood to succeed him as Majority Whip when he is made Vice President. While she claims to work for herself and not be beholden to others, she sees her position constantly tested through her ties to Frank, Claire, and Remy Danton.


  • All Girls Want Bad Boys: Subverted, kind of. She believes Remy Danton is this because of his pursuit of money, thinking he's a playboy. Turns out he's really a one woman type of man and doesn't like one night stands, which he makes clear after having one with her.
  • Ambition Is Evil: Frank noticed this quickly about her and chose her because of it. He later makes her an offer to join him in his plans for becoming POTUS with Claire.
  • Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: Turns against Underwood at the beginning of season 3 by siding with the Democrat leadership to make sure he doesn't run for the Presidency at the end of his term. She later makes a deal with Heather Dunbar (kind of) to leave each other alone during a TV debate and focus on attacking Frank. She also makes a deal with Frank to drop out of the electoral race early on and lend Frank her support. Eventually she breaks both deals, siding with Frank in the debate against Dunbar, and urging her supporters to back Dunbar instead of Frank afterwards.
  • Enemy Eats Your Lunch: Done in a very subtle way to someone who isn't an enemy, but becomes one by the end of the episode.
  • It Doesn't Mean Anything: Tries to take this stance after having sex with Remy Danton for the first time. However, ultimately subverted as she develops a serious relationship with him by the end of season 2. When they break up, she tries to put this front up.
  • Just Following Orders: Jackie's excuse for actions which resulted in the deaths of many innocent women and children in the Middle East when she was in the military before becoming a congresswoman.
  • Meaningful Name: 'Sharp' certainly fits her. She has a sharp mind, and she's lethal.
  • Mistreatment-Induced Betrayal: In Season 3, after being taken for a fool by Frank. She strikes back by endorsing Frank's primary rival.
  • Lonely at the Top: After becoming Majority Whip, she loses one of her few friendships in the world and puts her career ahead of a budding romance with Remy, who even points out the job has made her cold.
  • Screw This, I'm Out of Here!: She decides to leave politics at the end of Season 4, after she realized winning her bid for office wouldn't achieve anything for her. She tells her husband about the affair with Remy, and she agrees to speak to Tom Hammerschmidt about Frank's corrupt practices.
  • Tattoo Conceals Scars: She's a military veteran who was wounded in combat, and conceals the scar with a tattoo.
  • Worthy Opponent: Proves to be an equal to Claire Underwood in every way, after the two match wits over a sexual assault bill. Impressed by this, Claire decides to work with Jackie and make her an offer to join Frank in their plans for the White House.

    Bob 

Congressman Robert "Bob" Birch

Portrayed By: Larry Pine

A Democratic Congressman from Michigan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Becomes the House Minority Leader after the Republicans take control of the House in 2014.


  • Dirty Coward: "What is the face of a coward? The back of his head as he runs from the battle."
  • Enemy Mine: Teams up with Republican Senators Hector Mendoza and later Henry Mitchell to oppose the America Works program.

    Womack 

Congressman Terrance "Terry" Womack

Portrayed By: Curtiss Cook

A congressman from Missouri's 5th congressional district and the leader of the Black Caucus. Rises to the position of House Majority Leader thanks to Frank.


  • Extreme Doormat: How Frank regards him.
  • Token Minority: The only African-American congressman shown so far.
  • Took a Level in Badass: In Season 3 he convinces the rest of the Democratic leadership to ask Frank not to run for president after he finishes Walker's term.

    Peter 

Congressman Peter Russo

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/russo_peter.jpg
"I'll keep your secret if you keep mine."

Portrayed By: Corey Stoll

Works hard... plays even harder.

A Democratic Congressman from Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional Districtnote  who gets drawn into Underwood's plans.


  • Anyone Can Die
  • The Alcoholic: Frank talks him into going to AA meetings at one point, then makes sure it doesn't take.
  • Butt-Monkey: The guy never catches a break, and while some of his misfortune is his own fault, it gets worse thanks to being under Frank's thumb.
  • Composite Character: An amalgamation of Mr. Stoat, an MP with a minor role, fond of prostitutes and "saved" by Francis Urquhart in the original series after being pulled over by the police, and of Roger O'Neill, a conservative embezzler and cocaine addict, who is eventually murdered by Urquhart in way that looks an accident.
  • The Corruptible: Because of his desire to do good and gain respect
  • Dark and Troubled Past: Has a long history of drug abuse and questionable sexual liaisons which dog his political career. It's also stated that he didn't have a happy childhood; from what we see of his interactions with his mother, this is entirely believable.
  • Despair Event Horizon: After getting drunk and ruining his interview and thus his campaign for governor and his relationship with Christina
  • Fatal Flaw: His weaknesses for booze and women. They've dogged him as long as he's been in politics, and are responsible for the mistake that ends his career and ultimately his life.
  • Forced into Evil: By Frank, who uses blackmail and manipulation to push him into rolling over in front of the Brack commission, thus betraying the people who got him into office.
  • Hidden Depths: His speech to the Shipyard workers in Episode 8 shows his political skills and charisma.
  • The Hedonist: Loves alcohol, beautiful younger women, and drugs.
  • Heel–Face Door-Slam: After reaching his Despair Event Horizon, Russo plans to come clean about everything and accept responsibility. Frank kills him before he can do any such thing.
  • Informed Attractiveness: Several people mention that he is handsome.
  • Tragic Hero/Tragic Villain: Sleazy as he is, the man is well meaning, attempts to put his life in order and have some decency, but Frank's extortion and schemes destroy his good intentions and trap him in villainy.
  • Unwitting Pawn: Frank seemingly set Peter up to fail so he could convince the Vice President to take Peter's place in the governor's race and allow Frank to take over the now vacant Vice Presidency.
  • Yank the Dog's Chain: Just when things are finally looking up for him, Frank sees to it that he gets drunk for his phone interview and subsequently falls hard.

    Wes 

Wes Buchwalter

Portrayed By: John Scurti

    Ted 

Ted Havemeyer

Portrayed By: David Clennon

  • Old Friend: He was one to Jackie Sharp, and their friendship continued until her ambitions overtook them both.

    Jane 

Jane Davis

Portrayed By: Patricia Clarkson

  • Bunny-Ears Lawyer: She’s explicitly noted to be outwardly silly but extremely effective by Mark Usher.

    Alex 

Alex Romero

Portrayed By: James Martinez

A Democratic congressman from Arizona.


Republicans

    Mendoza 

Hector Mendoza

Portrayed By: Benito Martinez

The senior United States Senator from Arizona, and was the former Senate Majority Leader until it was revealed he accepted undeclared payments for speeches and resigned. He is a member of the Republican Party and before his resignation the potential Republican candidate for the 2016 Presidential Election.


  • Friendly Enemy: He's on the opposing side to Frank, but they're quite civil and get along relatively well. Of course, their relationship gets strained from time to time.
  • No Celebrities Were Harmed: He's an older Marco Rubio.
  • Put on a Bus: Mendoza disappears halfway Season 3 despite his increasing appearances; it's rather abrupt and Frank explains in a single line that he's lost leadership of the opposition due to a scandal, but he also emphasizes that Mendoza will likely be back. It's pretty likely due to Benito Martinez getting a more solid regular role on a show elsewhere.

    Curtis 

Curtis Haas

Portrayed By: Michael Park

A United States Senator for the state of Wyoming. He is a member of the Republican Party, and is associated with the Tea Party movement.


  • Jerkass: Even if he is a true believer in Tea Party conservatism, he's more than willing to let the government shut down just to spit in the face of Underwood and the Democrats after they offer him everything he could ask for.
  • No Celebrities Were Harmed: His leadership position and Tea Party membership are reminiscent of Ted Cruz.

    Mitchell 

Henry Mitchell

Portrayed By: Marc Kudisch

The current Senate Majority Leader and a Senator from Tennessee.


  • No Celebrities Were Harmed: He bears a resemblance to Mitch McConnell, being a Southern Republican who serves as Senate Majority Leader.
  • Reasonable Authority Figure: He opposes Frank, but it's shown to be in the interests of the country rather than any personal animosity. He's also a fiscal conservative, but supports appropriating more funds for FEMA in the face of an imminent hurricane.

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