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Parties Have Elected Their Leaders for the 117th Congress
- Most top lawmakers are returning to their leadership roles
- House Democrats will have a smaller majority in the new Congress
- Formal speaker election takes place on first day
- Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is the party’s nominee; said this could be her last term as speaker
- Members could join incoming Biden administration, further narrowing advantage after Nov. 3 losses
- The Senate majority will be determined by two runoffs in Georgia on Jan. 5
- If Democrats win both, the Senate would be 50-50
- Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris would break the tie after Jan. 20, putting Democrats in charge
- The most senior senator in the majority – Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) or Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) – would serve as president pro tempore
Top Three House Democrats Returning Next Congress
- Continuity for several top leaders:
- Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.)
- Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Md.)
- Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (S.C.)
- Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.)
- New faces in the No. 4 and No. 6 slots:
- Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (Mass.)
- Caucus Vice Chair Pete Aguilar (Calif.)
- Head of Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to be chosen after Thanksgiving
Democratic Policy, Communications Leadership Mostly Same
- Second term for Democratic Policy and Communications Committee co-chairs:
- Matt Cartwright (Pa.)
- Debbie Dingell (Mich.)
- Ted Lieu (Calif.)
- Joe Neguse (Colo.) elected to fourth slot
- New face for caucus leadership representative:
- Member who’s served five terms or less
- Colin Allred (Texas)
House GOP Re-Elects Top Leaders After Gaining Seats in 2020
- Top four GOP leaders, NRCC chair return:
- Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.)
- Minority Whip Steve Scalise (La.)
- Conference Chair Liz Cheney (Wyo.)
- Policy Committee Chair Gary Palmer (Ala.)
- National Republican Campaign Committee Chair Tom Emmer (Minn.)
- New faces for conference positions:
- Mike Johnson (La.) as conference vice chair
- Rich Hudson (N.C.) as conference secretary
Senate Republicans Leaders Return, Scott to NRSC
- Mitch McConnell (Ky.) stays Republican leader
- Other returning leaders include:
- Whip John Thune (S.D.)
- Conference Chair John Barrasso (Wyo.)
- Policy Committee Chair Roy Blunt (Mo.)
- Conference Vice Chair Joni Ernst (Iowa)
- Rick Scott (Fla.) will become chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee
- Scott will succeed Todd C. Young (Ind.)
Senate Democrats’ Top Leaders Back for 117th Congress
- Charles Schumer (N.Y.) back as leader
- Other leaders include:
- Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.)
- Assistant Democratic Leader Patty Murray (Wash.)
- Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (Mich.)
- Conference Vice Chairs Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Mark Warner (Va.)
- Head of Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has not been announced
Democratic Policy, Outreach Leadership Mostly Unchanged
- Other returning leaders include:
- Steering Committee Chair Amy Klobuchar (Minn.)
- Chair of Outreach Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
- DPCC Vice Chair Joe Manchin (W. Va.)
- Conference Secretary Tammy Baldwin (Wis.)
- New faces in policy and outreach:
- DPCC Vice Chair Cory Booker (N.J.)
- Outreach Vice Chair Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.)
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