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Seersucker, Seersucker Everywhere

Lawmakers celebrated National Seersucker Day

From left, Senators Mike Lee, R-Utah, Susan Collins, R-Maine., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Thad Cochran, R-Miss., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., in Russell rotunda on National Seersucker Day. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
From left, Senators Mike Lee, R-Utah, Susan Collins, R-Maine., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Thad Cochran, R-Miss., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., in Russell rotunda on National Seersucker Day. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
It’s National Seersucker Day and boy, did we celebrate!
 
Despite Sen. Bernie Sanders’ meetings in the Capitol — who wasn’t wearing seersucker, by the way — and President Barack Obama endorsing Hillary Clinton (they weren’t, either), the Capitol still took a little time out of its day for the political stripe.
 
The tradition was started by former Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott. Thursday’s event was hosted by Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Dianne Feinstein, who kept the 20-year-old tradition alive.
 
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) wears his seersucker suit as he walks to the Senate subway. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) wears his seersucker suit as he walks to the Senate subway. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
 
 
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) clad in her seersucker suit speaks with a reporter in the Capitol. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) clad in her seersucker suit speaks with a reporter in the Capitol. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
The National Seersucker Day official photo was taken at 1:45 p.m. in the Russell Rotunda.
 
Sens. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., left, and Bill Cassidy, R-La., attend a photo op in Russell rotunda. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Sens. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., left, and Bill Cassidy, R-La., attend a photo op in Russell rotunda. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Before the photograph, Utah Republican Mike Lee was not wearing his seersucker. The senator changed into the suit, then was spotted less than two hours later back in his original grey suit on the Senate floor. Other senators kept the style on all day.
 
Appearing in the center row, from left, are Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Thad Cochran, R-Miss., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., attend a photo op with staff in Russell rotunda. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Appearing in the center row, from left, are Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Thad Cochran, R-Miss., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., attend a photo op with staff in Russell rotunda. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Senate staffers even participated; both women and men wore seersucker jackets. Some men wore just the pants while others opted to go all out — and even sported two colors.

 
A Senate staffer, wearing a blue seersucker coat and pink seersucker pants, rides the Senate subway to the Russell Senate Office Building. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
A Senate staffer, wearing a blue seersucker coat and pink seersucker pants, rides the Senate subway to the Russell Senate Office Building. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

What’s your excuse?

While Lee at least wore the suit for some time, we asked senators why they didn’t wear seersucker at all on Thursday.
 
“I’m just outta style,” Jeff Sessions said, surprisingly because seersucker is quite popular in his home state of Alabama.
 
“I do not own a seersucker,” Martin Heinrich said. “I do not think I can pull off the seersucker.”
 
But, the New Mexico Democrat gave one colleague a shout-out.
 
Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., left, and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., attend a photo op in Russell rotunda. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., left, and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., attend a photo op in Russell rotunda. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
“I noticed that Roger Wicker had one on, but he’s a professional. If you’re from that part of the country you gotta have a few,” he said.
 

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