Mr. McAllister Goes to Washington, and He Is Wowed WASHINGTON - Vance McAllister, a 39-year-old college dropout and Army veteran, managed to vanquish a formidable Republican opponent backed by the party's establishment, win a special election in Louisiana's Fifth District in a 20-point landslide, and score an endorsement from the star of "Duck Dynasty." But until Wednesday, Mr. McAllister somehow had never managed to set foot in the nation's capital - where he is to be sworn in Thursday as the newest Republican member of Congress. He did not make it to Washington on a class trip, a fund-raising tour, a meeting with party campaign officials, a sightseeing visit or even while making a connection at one of the city's three major airports. "When we go on vacation, we go to where it's nice and warm," Mr. McAllister said, by way of explanation. While it might have been common in a bygone era for lawmakers to first set sight on the District of Columbia when arriving to take the oath, most incoming members of Congress have seen the Capitol in person before entering it for the first time to join official Washington. "Wow, wow," Mr. McAllister said Wednesday, gazing up at the chandelier in the Old House Chamber as his new staff gave him an impromptu tour of the Capitol. Wow, look at all that gold inlay. Then, sounding a bit like the conservative lawmaker he hopes to be, he added: "It's pretty, but that's our taxpayer dollars, isn't it?" Mr. McAllister's improbable journey to Washington began several months ago, when Rodney Alexander, the Republican who represented the district, announced that he was retiring to take a job with the administration of Gov. Bobby Jindal. Mr. McAllister, a political newcomer who owns oil, gas and pipeline businesses as well as several Subway franchises (his favorite is the tuna sandwich), managed to finish in the top two of an open primary. He ran slightly to the left of his fellow Republican opponent Neil Riser, a state senator who was favored to win, having received the backing of several prominent Republicans - Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the No. 2 House Republican, and Mr. Alexander, among others. Instead, on Saturday, Mr. McAllister won the special election with 60 percent of the vote. "Just remember I ran a little to the left of my opponent, but my opponent was so far to the right you couldn't help but be a little bit left," said Mr. McAllister, who during his race urged his state to accept the Medicaid expansion provided under the Affordable Care Act. We've got to make government work, and you've got to take every bill, every amendment, every vote and figure out how does this affect your district first. And then you've got to figure out how does it affect the country as a whole. Mr. McAllister arrived at Reagan National Airport on Wednesday morning fresh off a connection in Atlanta, wheeling his own carry-on, and wearing a gray suit (and gray suspenders) with his tie draped loose around his neck. "At least it smells all right," he said, sniffing the air as he waited in the taxi line. But, as his taxi cruised toward his new office and the Capitol came into view, Mr. McAllister - whose northern Louisiana accent is slow and gravelly, a bit like a deep mumble - grew more animated. The representative-elect hails from Swartz, near Monroe, and seemed equal parts relaxed and confident, curious and eager. "I've seen it before on TV, but it's pretty amazing to be right where the world revolves, ain't it?" he said. Then, turning to an aide, he asked, "Is everything right there together - the Capitol, the Pentagon, the White House?" The Pentagon, explained his aide, is actually across the river in Virginia. Later, walking into the Cannon House building where his office is, he observed, "I thought there was way more steps." "At the Capitol, there are," explained Jennifer Dunagin, his communications director. Up next was meeting the rest of his staff, roughly half a dozen aides who had worked for Mr. Alexander and whom Mr. McAllister had decided to keep on: "Well, can we get to work yet?" he asked, walking into his sparse office and opening the curtain to check out the view.