The party leadership of the United States Senate refers to the officials elected by the Senate Democratic Caucus and the Senate Republican Conference to manage the affairs of each party in the Senate. Each party is led by a floor leader who directs the legislative agenda of their caucus in the Senate, and who is augmented by an Assistant Leader or Whip, and several other officials who work together to manage the floor schedule of legislation, enforce party discipline, and oversee efforts to maintain and grow the party's seats in the Senate.
The constitutionally-defined Senate leadership roles are the Vice President of the United States, who serves as President of the Senate, and the President pro tempore, traditionally the seniormost member of the majority, who theoretically presides in the absence of the Vice President.
Unlike committee chairmanships, leadership positions are not traditionally conferred on the basis of seniority, but are elected in closed-door caucuses.
Democratic Leadership
Since January 20, 2021, the Democratic Party has constituted a majority in the United States Senate.
| Rank | Position | Name | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Democratic Floor Leader | Chuck Schumer | New York | Senate Majority Leader |
2 |
Democratic Floor Whip | Dick Durbin | Illinois | Senate Majority Whip |
3 |
Chair of Policy and Communications Committee | Debbie Stabenow | Michigan | Responsible for relations between Senate committees and the Senate Democratic Conference |
4 |
Steering Chair of the Steering and Outreach Committee | Amy Klobuchar | Minnesota | Responsible for fostering relations between Senate Democrats and community leaders and interest groups - chair split with Senator Sanders |
5 |
Vice Chairs of the Democratic Caucus | Mark Warner | Virginia | Position created for Schumer after successful tenure as DSCC chairman |
| Elizabeth Warren | Massachusetts | |||
6 |
Outreach Chair of the Steering and Outreach Committee | Bernie Sanders | Vermont | Responsible for fostering relations between Senate Democrats and community leaders and interest groups - chair split with Senator Klobuchar |
7 |
Secretary of the Senate Democratic Caucus | Tammy Baldwin | Wisconsin | Responsible for managing the policy agenda for the Senate Democratic Caucus. |
8 |
Vice Chair of Policy and Communications Committee | Joe Manchin | West Virginia | Assists caucus with policy proposals, outreach, legislative research, and party unity |
| Cory Booker | New Jersey | |||
9 |
Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee | Gary Peters | Michigan | Responsible for electing and reelecting Democrats to the Senate by organizing fundraising to candidate recruitment. |
10 |
Vice Chair of the Democratic Outreach Committee | Catherine Cortez Masto | Nevada | Assists the Chair with fostering relations between Senate Democrats and community leaders and interest groups. |
11 |
Deputy Secretary of the Senate Democratic Caucus | Brian Schatz | Hawaii | Responsible for assisting the Caucus Secretary in managing the policy agenda for the Senate Democratic Caucus. |
- |
Vice Chair of the Democratic Steering Committee | Jeanne Shaheen | New Hampshire | Assists the Chair with fostering relations between Senate Democrats and community leaders and interest groups. |
- |
Vice Chairs of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee | Tina Smith | Minnesota | Assists the Chair for electing and reelecting Democrats to the Senate by organizing fundraising to candidate recruitment. |
| Alex Padilla | California | |||
- |
Senate Democratic Chief Deputy Whip | Jeff Merkley | Oregon | Assists the Majority Whip in gathering the votes of the Democratic party on major issues. |
Presiding Officials
| Rank | Position | Name | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
President of the Senate | Kamala Harris | (California) | Not a Senator; see Vice President of the United StatesIn practicality, only an ex officio leadership member due to the Vice President's Executive Branch nature |
2 |
Senate President Pro Tempore | Patty Murray | Washington |
Usually the longest serving member of the majority party; honorary member of the leadership team. |
Republican leadership
Since January 20, 2021, the Republican Party has constituted a minority in the United States Senate.
| Rank | Position | Name | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Republican Floor Leader | Mitch McConnell | Kentucky | Senate Minority Leader |
2 |
Republican Floor Whip | John Thune | South Dakota | Senate Minority Whip |
3 |
Republican Conference Chair | John Barrasso | Wyoming | Oversees floor leader election, helps lead policy initiatives and policy proposals |
4 |
Republican Policy Committee Chair | Joni Ernst | Iowa | Policy liaison between committees and conference legislation |
5 |
Republican Conference Vice Chair | Shelley Moore Capito |
West Virginia |
Takes minutes and assists chair with conference operations |
6 |
Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee | Steve Daines | Montana |
Responsible for overseeing efforts to elect Republicans to the Senate |
- |
Senate President Pro Tempore Emeritus | Chuck Grassley | Iowa | Republican senator who was the previous (emeritus) president pro tem when the Republicans were in the majority, honorary member of Republican leadership. |
Notes
- Independent who caucuses with the Democrats.
- At the beginning of the 118th Congress Murray was the second longest serving Democrat; Dianne Feinstein was the longest serving Democrat turned down the opportunity to fill this position. Since Feinstein's death on September 29, 2023 Murray is now the longest serving Democratic senator.
References
- "U.S. Senate: Responsibilities of Majority and Minority Leaders". www.senate.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
- "U.S. Senate: President Pro Tempore". www.senate.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
- "U.S. Senate: Majority and Minority Leaders". www.senate.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
- Leadership | Senate Democrats. Democrats.senate.gov (2013-01-18). Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
- ^ U.S. Senate: Senators Home > Senate Organization. Senate.gov (2013-05-31). Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
- Gutman, David (November 16, 2022). "Patty Murray to be first female Senate president pro tempore, third in line for presidency". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- Republican.Senate.Gov. Republican.Senate.Gov (2012-09-04). Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
- "Republican Senators | Republican Leader". www.republicanleader.senate.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
- Treene, Andrew Solender,Alayna (November 16, 2022). "McConnell re-elected as Senate GOP leader". Axios. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Treene, Andrew Solender,Alayna (November 16, 2022). "McConnell re-elected as Senate GOP leader". Axios. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Treene, Andrew Solender,Alayna (November 16, 2022). "McConnell re-elected as Senate GOP leader". Axios. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)