House Republicans and Senate Democrats and Republicans Choose Leaders for 113th Congress

This week, House and Senate Republicans voted to elect their respective leaders for the 113th Congress . Most of the positions in the House were foregone conclusions, as no one challenged Speaker John Boehner (Ohio), Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.), or Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (Calif.). The most closely watched election was for conference chairman, which Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.) won over Rep. Tom Price (Ga.). The official role of the conference chair is to preside over House Republican’s regular closed-door meetings and act in a public relations role for the caucus.  In addition, Rep. Lynn Jenkins (Kan.) was elected as conference vice chair and Rep. Greg Walden (Ore.) was appointed as the head of the National Republican Campaign Committee.  House Democrats have yet to hold their leadership elections, but Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.) announced they plan to run for reelection to their respective positions. The Senate elected their leaders under similar circumstances – no one challenged Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Sen. John Cornyn (Texas) ran unopposed for Minority Whip, replacing retiring Whip John Kyl (Ariz.).  Rounding out the Republican Leadership in the Senate is Sen. John Thune (S.D.) as conference chairman, Sen. John Barrasso (Wyo.) as policy chairman, and Sen. Roy Blunt (Mo.) as conference vice chairman.  The political arm of Senate Republicans – the National Republican Senatorial Committee – will be headed by Sen. Jerry Moran (Kan.), replacing Sen. Cornyn.  Senate Democrats largely kept its leadership team intact.  Sen.Harry Reid (Nev.) was reelected as Majority Leader, Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.) was elected Majority Whip, and Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) was reelected to head the Senate Democrat caucus policy and communications operations.  Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.) will continue to serve as caucus secretary, while Sen. Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) will remain as vice chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.  The political arm of the Senate Democrats – the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee – has not been decided. AGC looks forward to working with leaders of both parties in the 113th Congress. For more information, please contact Sean O’Neill at (202) 547-8892 or oneills@agc.org.