U.S. Senate leadership elections, 2023
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This page covers U.S. Senate leadership elections for the 118th Congress. Each party elects leadership responsible for leading the party's conference, setting legislative agendas, and marshaling support for bills, among other duties.[1]
Leadership positions are elected in meetings of the conference prior to the start of a new Congress.[2]
The 118th Congress convened on January 3, 2023.
Democratic leadership
Democratic leadership elections took place on December 8, 2022.[3]
The following senators were elected to leadership positions in the 118th Congress:
- Chuck Schumer, majority leader and Democratic Conference chairman: Schumer was re-elected without opposition.[4]
- Dick Durbin, majority whip: Durbin was re-elected without opposition.[4]
- Debbie Stabenow, Democratic Policy and Communications Committee chairwoman: Stabenow was re-elected without opposition.[4]
Republican leadership
Republican leadership elections took place on November 16, 2022.[5]
The following senators were elected to leadership positions in the 118th Congress:
- Mitch McConnell, minority leader: McConnell was re-elected, defeating Rick Scott 37-10 with one senator not voting.[6] Click here to read more about this election.
- John Thune, minority whip: Thune was re-elected without opposition.[7]
- John Barrasso, Republican Conference chairman: Barrasso was re-elected without opposition.[7]
- Joni Ernst, Republican Policy Committee chairman: Ernst was elected without opposition.[7]
- Steve Daines, National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman: Daines was elected without opposition.[7]
Minority leader election
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was re-elected minority leader on November 16, defeating Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) 37-10 with one senator not voting.[6] He had served as the leader of the Republican Party in the Senate since 2007.[8]
Scott announced he intended to challenge McConnell for the position on November 15, saying, "I believe it’s time for the Senate Republican Conference to be far more bold and resolute than we have been in the past. We must start saying what we are for, not just what we are against."[9]
McConnell responded to the announcement, saying, "I think the outcome is very clear. I have the votes to get elected. I don't own this job. Anybody in the conference is certainly welcome to challenge me, and I welcome the competition."[9]
Previous leadership in Congress
Heading into the 2023 leadership elections, the following U.S. senators held leadership positions:[10]
- Chuck Schumer (D), majority leader
- Dick Durbin (D), majority whip
- Debbie Stabenow (D), Democratic Policy and Communications Committee chairwoman
- Mitch McConnell (R), minority leader
- John Thune (R), minority whip
- John Barrasso (R), Republican Conference chairman
- Roy Blunt (R), Republican Policy Committee chairman
Duties of U.S. Senate leadership
The following brief descriptions of the duties of U.S. Senate leadership come from the official website of the United States Senate:[10]
- Majority/minority leaders: Represents their party's positions, coordinates legislative strategies, and supervises floor action.[11]
- Party whips: Serve as assistant leaders and round up party members for votes and quorum calls.[12]
- Policy Committee chairs: Leads the committee responsible for setting legislative goals and scheduling floor actions.[13]
- Republican Conference chair: Assists the party leader in their duties.[14]
See also
- United States Congress elections, 2022
- United States Senate elections, 2022
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2022
- 118th United States Congress
- United States Congress
- United States Senate
- United States House of Representatives
Footnotes
- ↑ Senate.gov, "About Parties and Leadership," accessed November 15, 2022
- ↑ Senate.gov, "Leadership," accessed November 15, 2022
- ↑ Twitter, "Alayna Treene on November 16, 2022," accessed November 16, 2022
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 CNN, "Schumer reelected as Senate majority leader," December 8, 2022
- ↑ Politico, "McConnell faces leadership challenge from Rick Scott as conservatives steam," November 15, 2022
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 CBS News, "McConnell reelected Senate GOP leader, overcoming challenge from Scott," November 16, 2022
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Axios, "McConnell re-elected as Senate GOP leader," November 16, 2022
- ↑ Senate.gov, "Complete List of Majority and Minority Leaders," accessed November 16, 2022
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Washington Examiner, "Rick Scott launches Senate leadership bid against Mitch McConnell," November 15, 2022
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 United States House of Representatives, "Leadership," accessed November 19, 2020
- ↑ Senate.gov, "Majority and Minority Leaders," accessed November 16, 2022
- ↑ Senate.gov, "Party Whips," accessed November 16, 2022
- ↑ Senate.gov, "Policy Committee Chairs," accessed November 16, 2022
- ↑ Senate.gov, "Conference Chairs," accessed November 16, 2022
