Saxby Chambliss began his political career as an attorney. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1994, as one of the new conservative Republican congressmen whose elections caused the party to gain a majority in both houses of congress. A long-time congressman and fellow Georgian, Newt Gingrich was the leader of the movement, and Chambliss and the other republicans elected that year are known as the class of 94.
Chambliss was re-elected to the House in 1996, 1998 and 2000. He decided to run for the Senate in 2002, and he won, defeating the Democratic incumbent, Max Cleland.