New York Times
When asked to name a place identified with Italian-Americans, most people would pick New York City’s Little Italy, Boston’s North End or South Philadelphia, home to the fictional boxer Rocky Balboa. Maybe they'd even pick Chicago or San Francisco.
But they probably wouldn't say Wyoming. Yet when appointed Republican John Barrasso is sworn in next week to succeed the late Republican Craig Thomas, he will join Republican Michael B. Enzi in Wyoming’s delegation — and give the state two Italian-American senators. How many states previously have had two senators of Italian roots serving in the Senate at the same time?
Answer: a. Wyoming, according to the National Italian American Foundation, will be the first state to be represented simultaneously by two Italian-American senators.
A listing on the Web site of the Order Sons of Italy in America shows that four current senators besides Enzi and Barrasso have family ties to Italy: Republicans Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico and John Ensign of Nevada and Democrats Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana and Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont.
The site also lists 23 Italian-Americans currently serving in the House, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi (nee D’Alesandro) of California, 13 other Democrats and nine Republicans.
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