Democratic Caucus of the United States Senate

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.

Current Hierarchy

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

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.

Dates Senator State
1903–1906 Arthur P. Gorman Maryland
1906–1907 Joseph C. S. Blackburn Kentucky
1907–1909 Charles A. Culberson Texas
1909–1911 Hernando D. Money Mississippi
1911–1913 Thomas S. Martin Virginia
1913–1917 John Worth Kern Indiana
1917–1919 Thomas S. Martin Virginia
1920–1923 Oscar W. Underwood Alabama
1923–1937 Joseph T. Robinson Arkansas
1937–1949 Alben W. Barkley Kentucky
1949–1951 Scott W. Lucas Illinois
1951–1953 Ernest W. McFarland Arizona
1953–1961 Lyndon Johnson Texas
1961–1977 Mike Mansfield Montana
1977–1989 Robert Byrd West Virginia
1989–1995 George J. Mitchell Maine
1995–2005 Tom Daschle South Dakota
2005–2017 Harry Reid Nevada
2017–present Chuck Schumer New York

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.

References

    Bibliography

    Senate Republican Conference Senate Senate Democratic Caucus
    Conference Chair Chairperson Caucus Chair
    Conference Vice-Chair/Secretary Secretary Caucus Secretary
    Policy Committee Chair Policy Committee Policy Committee Chair
    House Republican Conference House of Representatives House Democratic Caucus
    Conference Chair Presiding Officer Caucus Chair
    Vice-Chair Vice Chair Vice-Chair / Secretary
    Conference Secretary Secretary
    Policy Committee Chair Policy Committee Policy Committee Co-Chair
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