Wikipedia:WikiProject U.S. Congress/Senate seniority table sandbox
Notes
- This sandbox is designed to craft the table for the next Congress. In this case, the 116th United States Congress beginning January 3, 2019.
- This list assumes all incumbents are re-elected unless they are retiring.
- This list has been updated to reflect the Results of the 2016 Senate Elections.
Current seniority list
The president pro tempore of the Senate is traditionally the most senior member of the majority party. Only relevant factors are listed below. For senators whose seniority is based on their states' respective populations, the state population ranking is given as determined by the relevant United States Census.[1][2][3][4]
|
Republican R (51) Democratic D (47) Independent I (2) Open Seat | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current rank |
Historical rank[5][6] |
Senator Party-State |
Seniority date | First tie-breaker | Second tie-breaker | Committee and leadership positions | |
| 1 | 1692 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Patrick Leahy D – Vermont |
January 3, 1975 | Ranking Member: Appropriations President pro tempore emeritus | ||
| 2 | 1745 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Chuck Grassley R – Iowa |
January 3, 1981 | President pro tempore Chair: Finance Chair: Judiciary | ||
| 3 | 1766 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Mitch McConnell R – Kentucky |
January 3, 1985 | Majority Leader | ||
| 4 | 1775 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Richard Shelby R[n 1] – Alabama |
January 3, 1987 | Former Representative (8 years) | Chair: Appropriations | |
| 5 | 1777 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | John McCain R – Arizona |
Former Representative (4 years) | Chair: Armed Services | ||
| 6 | 1801 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Dianne Feinstein D – California |
November 4, 1992 | Ranking Member: Judiciary | ||
| 7 | 1810 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Patty Murray D – Washington |
January 3, 1993 | Ranking Member: HELP Assistant Minority Leader | ||
| 8 | 1816 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Jim Inhofe R – Oklahoma |
November 16, 1994 | |||
| 9 | 1827 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Ron Wyden D – Oregon |
February 6, 1996 | Ranking Member: Finance | ||
| 10 | 1830 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Pat Roberts R – Kansas |
January 3, 1997 | Former Representative (16 years) | Chair: Agriculture | |
| 11 | 1831 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Dick Durbin D – Illinois |
Former Representative (14 years) | Minority Whip | ||
| 12 | 1835 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Jack Reed D – Rhode Island |
Former Representative (6 years) | Ranking Member: Armed Services | ||
| 13 | 1842 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Susan Collins R – Maine |
Maine 38th in population (1990) | Chair: Aging | ||
| 14 | 1843 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Mike Enzi R – Wyoming |
Wyoming 50th in population (1990) | Chair: Budget | ||
| 15 | 1844 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Chuck Schumer D – New York |
January 3, 1999 | Former Representative (18 years) | Minority Leader | |
| 16 | 1846 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Mike Crapo R – Idaho |
Former Representative (6 years) | Chair: Banking | ||
| 17 | 1854 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Bill Nelson D – Florida |
January 3, 2001 | Former Representative (12 years) | Ranking Member: Commerce | |
| 18 | 1855 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Tom Carper D – Delaware |
Former Representative (10 years) | Ranking Member: Environment | ||
| 19 | 1856 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Debbie Stabenow D – Michigan |
Former Representative (4 years) | Ranking Member: Agriculture Democratic Policy Committee Chair | ||
| 20 | 1859 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Maria Cantwell[n 2] D – Washington |
Former Representative (2 years) | Ranking Member: Energy | ||
| 21 | 1867 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Lisa Murkowski R – Alaska |
December 20, 2002[n 3] | Chair: Energy | ||
| 22 | 1869 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Lindsey Graham R – South Carolina |
January 3, 2003 | Former Representative | ||
| 23 | 1871 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Lamar Alexander R – Tennessee |
Former Cabinet member | Chair: HELP | ||
| 24 | 1873 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | John Cornyn[n 4] R – Texas |
Majority Whip | |||
| 25 | 1876 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Richard Burr R – North Carolina |
January 3, 2005 | Former Representative (10 years) | Chair: Intelligence | |
| 26 | 1879 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | John Thune R – South Dakota |
Former Representative (6 years) | Chair: Commerce Republican Conference Chair | ||
| 27 | 1880 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Johnny Isakson R – Georgia |
Former Representative (5 yrs., 10 mos.) | Chair: Veterans' Affairs Chair: Ethics | ||
| 28 | 1885 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Bob Menendez D – New Jersey |
January 17, 2006[n 3] | Ranking Member: Foreign Relations | ||
| 29 | 1886 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Ben Cardin D – Maryland |
January 3, 2007 | Former Representative (20 years) | Ranking Member: Small Business | |
| 30 | 1887 | style="background-color:Template:Independent (United States)/meta/color" | | Bernie Sanders I – Vermont |
Former Representative (16 years) | Ranking Member: Budget | ||
| 31 | 1888 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Sherrod Brown D – Ohio |
Former Representative (14 years) | Ranking Member: Banking | ||
| 32 | 1890 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Bob Casey Jr. D – Pennsylvania |
Pennsylvania 6th in population (2000) | Ranking Member: Aging | ||
| 33 | 1892 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Claire McCaskill D – Missouri |
Missouri 17th in population (2000) | Ranking Member: Homeland Security | ||
| 34 | 1893 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Amy Klobuchar D – Minnesota |
Minnesota 21st in population (2000) | Ranking Member: Rules | ||
| 35 | 1894 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Sheldon Whitehouse D – Rhode Island |
Rhode Island 43rd in population (2000) | |||
| 36 | 1895 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Jon Tester D – Montana |
Montana 44th in population (2000) | Ranking Member: Veterans' Affairs | ||
| 37 | 1896 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | John Barrasso R – Wyoming |
June 22, 2007[n 3] | Chair: Environment Republican Policy Committee Chair | ||
| 38 | 1897 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Roger Wicker R – Mississippi |
December 31, 2007[n 3] | |||
| 39 | 1899 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Tom Udall D – New Mexico |
January 3, 2009 | Former Representative | Vice Chair: Indian Affairs | |
| 40 | 1901 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Jeanne Shaheen D – New Hampshire |
Former Governor (6 years) | |||
| 41 | 1902 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Mark Warner D – Virginia |
Former Governor (4 years) | Vice Chair: Intelligence Democratic Caucus Vice Chair | ||
| 42 | 1903 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Jim Risch R – Idaho |
Former Governor (7 months) | Chair: Foreign Relations Chair: Small Business | ||
| 43 | 1905 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Jeff Merkley D – Oregon |
||||
| 44 | 1909 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Michael Bennet D – Colorado |
January 21, 2009[n 3] | |||
| 45 | 1910 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Kirsten Gillibrand D – New York |
January 26, 2009[n 3] | |||
| 46 | 1916 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Joe Manchin D – West Virginia |
November 15, 2010 | Former Governor | ||
| 47 | 1917 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Chris Coons D – Delaware |
Vice Chair: Ethics | |||
| 48 | 1919 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Roy Blunt R – Missouri |
January 3, 2011 | Former Representative (14 years) | Missouri 17th in population (2000) | Chair: Rules Republican Conference Vice Chair |
| 49 | 1920 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Jerry Moran R – Kansas |
Kansas 33rd in population (2000) | |||
| 50 | 1921 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Rob Portman R – Ohio |
Former Representative (12 years) | |||
| 51 | 1922 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | John Boozman R – Arkansas |
Former Representative (10 years) | |||
| 52 | 1923 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Pat Toomey R – Pennsylvania |
Former Representative (6 years) | |||
| 53 | 1924 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | John Hoeven R – North Dakota |
Former Governor | Chair: Indian Affairs | ||
| 54 | 1925 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Marco Rubio R – Florida |
Florida 4th in population (2000) | |||
| 55 | 1926 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Ron Johnson R – Wisconsin |
Wisconsin 20th in population (2000) | Chair: Homeland Security | ||
| 56 | 1927 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Rand Paul R – Kentucky |
Kentucky 25th in population (2000) | |||
| 57 | 1928 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Richard Blumenthal D – Connecticut |
Connecticut 29th in population (2000) | |||
| 58 | 1929 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Mike Lee R – Utah |
Utah 34th in population (2000) | |||
| 59 | 1931 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Dean Heller R – Nevada |
May 9, 2011[n 3] | |||
| 60 | 1932 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Brian Schatz D – Hawaii |
December 26, 2012[n 3] | |||
| 61 | 1933 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Tim Scott R – South Carolina |
January 2, 2013[n 3] | |||
| 62 | 1934 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Tammy Baldwin D – Wisconsin |
January 3, 2013 | Former Representative (14 years) | Democratic Caucus Secretary | |
| 63 | 1936 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Joe Donnelly D – Indiana |
Former Representative (6 years) | Indiana 15th in population (2010) |
| |
| 64 | 1937 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Chris Murphy D – Connecticut |
Connecticut 29th in population (2010) | |||
| 65 | 1938 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Mazie Hirono D – Hawaii |
Hawaii 40th in population (2010) | |||
| 66 | 1939 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Martin Heinrich D – New Mexico |
Former Representative (4 years) | |||
| 67 | 1940 | style="background-color:Template:Independent (United States)/meta/color" | | Angus King I – Maine |
Former Governor (8 years) | |||
| 68 | 1941 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Tim Kaine D – Virginia |
Former Governor (4 years) | |||
| 69 | 1942 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Ted Cruz R – Texas |
Texas 2nd in population (2010) | |||
| 70 | 1943 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Elizabeth Warren D – Massachusetts |
Massachusetts 14th in population (2010) | Democratic Caucus Vice Chair | ||
| 71 | 1944 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Deb Fischer R – Nebraska |
Nebraska 38th in population (2010) | |||
| 72 | 1945 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Heidi Heitkamp D – North Dakota |
North Dakota 48th in population (2010) | |||
| 73 | 1948 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Ed Markey D – Massachusetts |
July 16, 2013 | |||
| 74 | 1949 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Cory Booker D – New Jersey |
October 31, 2013 | |||
| 75 | 1951 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Shelley Moore Capito R – West Virginia |
January 3, 2015 | Former Representative (14 years) | ||
| 76 | 1952 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Gary Peters D – Michigan |
Former Representative (6 years) | Michigan 8th in population (2010) | ||
| 77 | 1953 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Bill Cassidy[n 5] R – Louisiana |
Louisiana 25th in population (2010) | |||
| 78 | 1954 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Cory Gardner R – Colorado |
Former Representative (4 years) | Colorado 22nd in population (2010) | NRSC Chair | |
| 79 | 1955 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | James Lankford R – Oklahoma |
Oklahoma 28th in population (2010) | |||
| 80 | 1956 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Tom Cotton R – Arkansas |
Former Representative (2 years) | Arkansas 32nd in population (2010) | ||
| 81 | 1957 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Steve Daines R – Montana |
Montana 44th in population (2010) | |||
| 82 | 1958 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Mike Rounds R – South Dakota |
Former Governor | |||
| 83 | 1959 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | David Perdue R – Georgia |
Georgia 9th in population (2010) | |||
| 84 | 1960 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Thom Tillis R – North Carolina |
North Carolina 10th in population (2010) | |||
| 85 | 1961 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Joni Ernst R – Iowa |
Iowa 30th in population (2010) | |||
| 86 | 1962 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Ben Sasse R – Nebraska |
Nebraska 38th in population (2010) | |||
| 87 | 1963 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Dan Sullivan R – Alaska |
Alaska 47th in population (2010) | |||
| 88 | 1964 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Chris Van Hollen D – Maryland |
January 3, 2017 | Former Representative (14 years) | DSCC Chair | |
| 89 | 1965 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Todd Young R – Indiana |
Former Representative (6 years) | |||
| 90 | 1966 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Tammy Duckworth D – Illinois |
Former Representative (4 years) | |||
| 91 | 1967 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Maggie Hassan D – New Hampshire |
Former Governor | |||
| 92 | 1968 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Kamala Harris D – California |
California 1st in population (2010) | |||
| 93 | 1969 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | John Neely Kennedy R – Louisiana |
Louisiana 25th in population (2010) | |||
| 94 | 1970 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Catherine Cortez Masto D – Nevada |
Nevada 35th in population (2010) | |||
| 95 | 1972 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Tina Smith D – Minnesota |
January 3, 2018 | Minnesota 21st in population (2010) | ||
| 96 | 1973 | style="background-color:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Doug Jones D – Alabama |
Alabama 23rd in population (2010) | |||
| 97 | 1974 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color" | | Cindy Hyde-Smith R – Mississippi |
April 2, 2018[n 3] | |||
| 98 | 1975 | Open Seat U – Arizona |
January 3, 2019 | Arizona 16th in population (2010) | |||
| 99 | 1975 | Open Seat U – Tennessee |
Tennessee 17th in population (2010) | ||||
| 100 | 1976 | Open Seat U – Utah |
Utah 34th in population (2010) | ||||
| Rank | Historical rank |
Senator Party-State |
Seniority date | First tie-breaker | Second tie-breaker | Committee and leadership positions | |
Notes
- ^ Richard Shelby's 1994 party change did not break his service or seniority.
- ^ Maria Cantwell (#21) is the Senate's most senior junior senator.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j The seniority date for an appointed senator is the date of the appointment, not necessarily the date of taking the oath of office. See Determining the beginning of a term, above.
- ^ John Cornyn's predecessor, Phil Gramm, resigned early, effective November 30, 2002, so that Senator-elect Cornyn could take office early, and move into Gramm's office suite in order to begin organizing his staff. Cornyn did not, however, gain seniority, owing to a 1980 Rules Committee policy that no longer gave seniority to senators who entered Congress early for the purpose of gaining advantageous office space.
- ^ Bill Cassidy (#80) is the Senate's most junior senior senator.
References
- ^ 1981 U.S Census Report Contains 1980 Census results.
- ^ 1991 U.S Census Report Contains 1990 Census results.
- ^ American FactFinder, United States Census Bureau. "2000 Census State Population Rankings". Factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
- ^ Resident Population Data (Text Version) - 2010 Census Contains 1910 to 2010 results by state and census region
- ^ "Historical rank" refers to the Senator's seniority over the entire history of the Senate since 1789. This is an absolute number that does not change from one Congress to the next.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
chronolistwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).