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 most senior 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 3, 2025, the Democratic Party has constituted a minority in the United States Senate.
| Rank | Position | Name | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Democratic Floor Leader | Chuck Schumer | New York | Senate Minority Leader Concurrently serves as the Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus. |
| 2 | Democratic Floor Whip | Dick Durbin | Illinois | Senate Minority Whip |
| 3 | Chair of the Steering and Policy Committee | Amy Klobuchar | Minnesota | Policy: Responsible for providing Senate Democrats with research, policy-formulation, and communications guidance on key caucus priorities. Steering: Serves as a liaison between Senate Democratic offices, advocacy groups, intergovernmental organizations, and leaders across the country. |
| 4 | Chair of the Strategic Communications Committee | Cory Booker | New Jersey | Responsible for leading the Caucus’ communication and messaging strategy, ensuring the accomplishments and priorities of Senate Democrats are heard loud and clear across the county. Also using creative strategies and new technology to speak directly to the American people. Also responsible for providing various services to Democratic Senators and their staff, the SCC enhances Senate Democrats’ ability to formulate and advance their agenda through the use of modern communications. |
| 5 | Vice Chairs of the Senate Democratic Caucus | Mark Warner | Virginia | Position created for Schumer after successful tenure as DSCC chairman. They are charged with keeping and building support for Democratic values. |
| Elizabeth Warren | Massachusetts | |||
| 6 | Chair of the Democratic Outreach Committee | Bernie Sanders | Vermont | Responsible for fostering relations between Senate Democrats and community leaders and interest groups. Hosts meetings with advocates, activists, and elected officials to help with Democratic structure in the Senate. |
| 7 | Secretary of the Senate Democratic Caucus | Tammy Baldwin | Wisconsin | Responsible for managing the policy agenda for the Senate Democratic Caucus, as well as taking notes and aiding party leadership when the caucus meets. |
| 8 | Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee | TBD | Responsible for electing and reelecting Democrats to the Senate by organizing fundraising to candidate recruitment. | |
| 9 | Vice Chair of the Democratic Outreach Committee | Catherine Cortez Masto | Nevada | info coming soon |
| 10 | Deputy Secretaries of the Senate Democratic Caucus | Chris Murphy | Connecticut | info coming soon |
| Brian Schatz | Hawaii | |||
| – | Vice Chair of the Steering and Policy Committee | Jeanne Shaheen | New Hampshire | info coming soon |
| – | Vice Chair of the Strategic Communications Committee | Tina Smith | Minnesota | info coming soon |
| – | Senate Democratic Chief Deputy Whip | Brian Schatz | Hawaii | Assists the Minority Whip in gathering the votes of the Democratic party on major issues. |
| – | Senate President pro tempore emerita | Patty Murray | Washington | Democratic senator who was the previous (emeritus/emerita) president pro tempore when the Democrats were in the majority, honorary member of Democrat leadership. |
Republican leadership
Since January 3, 2025, the Republican Party has constituted a majority in the United States Senate.
| Rank | Position | Name | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Republican Floor Leader | John Thune | South Dakota | Senate Majority Leader |
| 2 | Republican Floor Whip | John Barrasso | Wyoming | Senate Majority Whip |
| 3 | Chair of the Senate Republican Conference | Tom Cotton | Arkansas | Oversees floor leader elections, informs the media of the opinions and activities of the Senate Republicans, and provides a full range of communications services to Republican senators. |
| 4 | Chair of the Republican Policy Committee | Shelley Moore Capito | West Virginia | Policy liaison between committees and conference legislation. Organizes conference Tuesday lunches with summaries of major bills and analysis. |
| 5 | Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference | James Lankford | Oklahoma | Takes minutes and assists chair with conference operations |
| 6 | Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee | Tim Scott | South Carolina | Responsible for overseeing efforts to elect Republicans to the Senate |
Presiding Officials
| Rank | Position | Name | State | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | President of the Senate | Kamala Harris | California | Democratic | 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 | Chuck Grassley | Iowa | Republican | Usually the longest serving member of the majority party; honorary member of the leadership team. |
Notes
- Since 1920, the Senate Democratic leader has also concurrently served as the Democratic Caucus chairperson; this is an unwritten tradition.
- Independent who caucuses with the Democrats.
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.
- "Democratic Steering & Policy Committee". Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- "Majority Leader Schumer Announces Senate Democratic Leaderships Team For the 119th Congress". 2024-12-03. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- "Democratic Strategic Communications Committee". Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- Republican.Senate.Gov. Republican.Senate.Gov (2012-09-04). Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
- U.S. Senate: Senators Home > Senate Organization. Senate.gov (2013-05-31). Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
- "Republican Senators | Republican Leader". www.republicanleader.senate.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-09.