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Democratic Caucus of the United States Senate

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The Democratic Caucus of the United States Senate (sometimes referred to as the Democratic Conference) is the formal organization of all senators who are part of the Democratic Party in the United States Senate. For the makeup of the 115th Congress, the Conference additionally includes two independent senators (Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine) who formally caucus with the Democrats for the purpose of committee assignments and structural organization, bringing the current total to 48 members. The central organizational front for Democrats in the Senate, its primary function is communicating the party's message to all of its members under a single banner.

Contents

Current Hierarchy

Effective with the start of the 115th Congress, the conference leadership is as follows:

  • Chuck Schumer (NY) as Senate Minority Leader and Chair of the Democratic Caucus
  • Dick Durbin (IL) as Senate Minority Whip
  • Patty Murray (WA) as Senate Assistant Minority Leader
  • Debbie Stabenow (MI) as Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee
  • Mark Warner (VA) and Elizabeth Warren (MA) as Vice Chairs of the Democratic Caucus
  • Amy Klobuchar (MN) as Chair of the Senate Democratic Steering Committee
  • Bernie Sanders (VT) as Chair of the Senate Democratic Outreach Committee
  • Joe Manchin (WV) as Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee
  • Tammy Baldwin (WI) as Secretary of the Democratic Conference
  • Chris Van Hollen (MD) as Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
  • Jeff Merkley (OR) as Senate Democratic Chief Deputy Whip
  • Patrick Leahy (VT) is also considered an honorary leadership member due to his position as President pro tempore emeritus
  • History

    The conference was formally organized on March 6, 1903, electing a chair to preside over its members and a secretary to keep minutes. Until that time, this caucus was often disorganized, philosophically divided, and had neither firm written rules of governance nor a clear mission.

    Chairs

    Since 1920, the Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus has also concurrently served as the floor leader as part of an unspoken tradition.

    Vice Chair

    After the victory of Democrats in the midterm elections of 2006 an overwhelming majority in the conference wanted to reward Chuck Schumer, then the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, with a position in the leadership hierarchy. In response, then-Democratic Leader Harry Reid created the position of Vice-Chair when Democrats formally took control in 2007. Schumer ascended to Reid's position following his retirement after the 2016 elections. The position was then split, with one co-chair awarded to a centrist Senator, Mark Warner, and the other awarded to a left-wing Senator, Elizabeth Warren.

  • Chuck Schumer (2007–2017)
  • Mark Warner and Elizabeth Warren (2017–present)
  • References

    Democratic Caucus of the United States Senate Wikipedia