Inauguration Tickets

The joy of so many at the election of Senator Obama has resulted in over two thousand requests to my office for tickets to the Inauguration.

Requests far exceed the tickets that will be available from any source.

My office is no longer taking new requests for tickets. If you filled out the form on this site, then your name has been entered into a random drawing for tickets. Due to the exceptionally high volume of requests, I feel this is the only fair way to give residents of my district a chance to attend.

If we have tickets available for you, my staff will contact you directly by the 16th. If we do not contact you, then unfortunately we won't have a ticket available for you.

If you don’t get a ticket, it will be possible to view the inauguration ceremony in other public space on the National Mall. I’ve been informed that there will be a number of giant television screens in several locations along the Mall to help accommodate the expected record-breaking crowds. We are being advised to urge folks not to bring young children. The weather, lack of rest rooms, food vendors and long waits are not the best conditions for little ones.

Also be careful about scams for the purchase of inauguration tickets. They are not for sale and are only available through the Inauguration Committee. I will have only a few close-in standing- room spaces. And, by “close in”, I mean two to four city blocks from the podium!

Please click on inaugural.senate.gov for the latest information about scheduled activities during Inauguration Week. Also note, the Inaugural Balls and Galas are run by the Presidential Inaugural Committee. I will not be granted any tickets for these events.

Please, please be sure you have arranged travel and hotel accommodations before coming to D.C., as reports indicate overbooking. If you do not now have travel and hotel reservations, I would urge you to celebrate at home and plan a trip later in 2009. There will be numerous events, chances to tour the White House, view Congress in action and we can help you plan your visit.

On the bright side, we now have a President-elect we’re excited about!