Tom Jordan was a prosecutor in the District Attorney's office who was recruited to run for Grant Samuels's seat after the congressman died.
He attended Oberlin College and Duke Law School, where he met Sam Seaborn. He passed up lucrative opportunities to work in the District Attorney's office, and he was active in local politics. In 1998 he married Sarah, and in 2000 they were expecting their first child.
Sam brought Tom and Sarah to the White House to pitch them the idea of running. C.J. Cregg discovered Tom preferred white juries for black defendants, and since he had also been a member of an all-white fraternity in college, the White House cut him loose so black voters would turn out in districts where Democrats were competitive. He lost 58-42 in a district that was 49% Democrat.