Senate Democrats Announce Leadership Positions for the 115th Congress

Today, the Senate Democratic Caucus announced leadership and ranking member positions for the 115th Congress. As expected, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will serve as Democratic Minority Leader, the position formerly held by retiring Senator Harry Reid (D-NV).

Senator Schumer added leadership posts for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin to ensure that working class Americans have a voice in Senate Democratic leadership.

There are a number of changes to the Ranking Member positions in the various Committees. Of importance to Indian Country is the rise of Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) to serve as Ranking Member for the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (taking over for Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) who moves to serve as Ranking for the Veterans Affairs Committee). In addition, Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT) will assume the role of Ranking Member for the Appropriations Committee, taking the helm from retiring Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).

The full list of Democratic leadership and committee appointments for the 115th Congress are posted below.

115th Congress:

Senate Democratic Leader and Chair of the Conference: Senator Charles Schumer

Democratic Whip: Senator Dick Durbin

Assistant Democratic Leader: Senator Patty Murray

Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee: Senator Debbie Stabenow

Vice Chair of the Conference: Senator Elizabeth Warren

Vice Chair of the Conference: Senator Mark Warner

Chair of Steering Committee: Senator Amy Klobuchar

Chair of Outreach: Senator Bernie Sanders

Vice Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee: Senator Joe Manchin

Senate Democratic Conference Secretary: Senator Tammy Baldwin

The committee ranking members for the 115th Congress:

Agriculture: Senator Debbie Stabenow

Armed Services: Senator Jack Reed

Appropriations: Senator Patrick Leahy

Banking: Senator Sherrod Brown

Budget: Senator Bernie Sanders

Commerce: Senator Bill Nelson

Energy: Senator Maria Cantwell

EPW: Senator Tom Carper

Finance: Senator Ron Wyden

Foreign Relations: Senator Ben Cardin

HELP: Senator Patty Murray

HSGAC: Senator Claire McCaskill

Indian Affairs: Senator Tom Udall

Judiciary: Senator Dianne Feinstein

Rules: Senator Amy Klobuchar

Small Business: Senator Jeanne Shaheen

Veterans Affairs: Senator Jon Tester

Aging: Senator Bob Casey

Ethics: Senator Chris Coons

Intelligence: Senator Mark Warner

JEC: Senator Martin Heinrich