House Democrats- 119th Congress

House Democrats- 119th Congress

Summary

The House Democratic Caucus is a congressional caucus composed of all Democratic representatives in the United States House of Representatives, voting and non-voting, and is responsible for nominating and electing the Democratic Party leadership in the chamber.

In its roles as a party conference, the caucus writes and enforces rules of conduct and discipline for its members, approves committee assignments, and serves as the primary forum for development of party policy and legislative priorities. It hosts weekly meetings for these purposes and to communicate the party’s message to members.

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House Democratic Caucus Wikipedia


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The House Democratic Caucus is a congressional caucus composed of all Democratic representatives in the United States House of Representatives, voting and non-voting,[1] and is responsible for nominating and electing the Democratic Party leadership in the chamber. In its roles as a party conference, the caucus writes and enforces rules of conduct and discipline for its members, approves committee assignments, and serves as the primary forum for development of party policy and legislative priorities. It hosts weekly meetings for these purposes and to communicate the party’s message to members.

When the caucus holds the majority of seats, it is usually led by the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives who is assisted on the floor by the House majority leader and the party’s chief whip. When in the minority, it is led by the House minority leader, assisted by the chief whip. The caucus has a Caucus chairman and Caucus vice-chair (formerly called the secretary). For the 119th Congress, Hakeem Jeffries was elected as the minority leader, Katherine Clark became the minority whip and Pete Aguilar was chosen as the Caucus chairman.

Current hierarchy

Effective with the start of the 118th Congress, the chain of command conference leadership is as follows (from highest to lowest):

Leadership history

The House Democratic Caucus, through its institutional antecedent, the Democratic-Republican caucus, was established on April 2, 1796, to stop a treaty with Great Britain which unfairly treated American sailors. For many years, through 1820, it nominated presidential candidates (before the era of national nominating conventions).

Since 2023, the House Democratic leader has been Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York (the first African-American congressional party leader in U.S. history).[2] He was elected to succeed longtime Democratic leader and the first woman speaker of the House in U.S. history Nancy Pelosi.

At the Organizational Meeting on November 18, 2008, of the Democratic Caucus for the 111th Congress, Representative John B. Larson (D-Connecticut) was elected Caucus chairman by acclamation. The election was presided over by the outgoing chairman of the Democratic Caucus for the 110th Congress, former representative Rahm Emanuel (D-Illinois). Rep. Larson officially assumed the position of chairman on the first day of the 111th Congress, January 3, 2009.

After his election as chairman at the Organizational Meeting on November 18, Chairman Larson presided over the election of Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-California), who defeated Representative Marcy Kaptur of Ohio by a vote count of 175 to 67. Rep. Becerra likewise assumed his vice-chairmanship on January 3.

Leaders of the House Democratic Caucus

CongressLeaderDistrictTook officeLeft officeHouse Speaker
20thAndrew Stevenson
(1784–1857)		Virginia 9December 3, 1827June 2, 1834[a] Himself 1827–1834
21st
22nd
23rdVirginia 11
23rdJohn Bell
(1796–1869)		Tennessee 7June 2, 1834March 4, 1835 Himself 1834–1835
24thJames K. Polk
(1795–1849)		Tennessee 9December 7, 1835March 4, 1839 Himself 1835–1839
25th 
26thUnknown[b] Hunter 1839–1841
27thUnknown[b] White 1841–1843
28thJohn Winston Jones
(1791–1848)		Virginia 6December 4, 1843March 4, 1845 Himself 1843–1845
29thJohn Wesley Davis
(1799–1859)		Indiana 6December 1, 1845March 4, 1847 Himself 1845–1847
30thUnknown[b] Winthrop 1847–1849
31stHowell Cobb
(1815–1868)		Georgia 6December 22, 1849March 4, 1851 Himself 1849–1851
32ndLinn Boyd
(1800–1859)		Kentucky 1December 1, 1851March 4, 1855 Himself 1851–1855
33rd
34thGeorge Washington Jones
(1806–1884)		Tennessee 6March 4, 1855March 4, 1857 Banks 1856–1857
35thJames Lawrence Orr
(1822–1873)		South Carolina 5December 7, 1857March 3, 1859 Himself 1857–1859
36thGeorge S. Houston
(1811–1879)		Alabama 5March 4, 1859January 21, 1861[c] Pennington 1860–1861
37thUnknown[d] Grow 1861–1863
38thUnknown[d] Colfax 1863–1869
39thUnknown[d]
40thUnknown[d]
40th Pomeroy 1869
41stSamuel J. Randall
(1828–1890)		Pennsylvania 1March 4, 1869March 3, 1871 Blaine 1869–1875
William E. Niblack
(1822–1893)		Indiana 1
42ndUnknown[b]
43rdWilliam E. Niblack
(1822–1893)		Indiana 1March 4, 1873March 3, 1875
44thMichael C. Kerr
(1827–1876)		Indiana 3December 6, 1875August 19, 1876[e] Himself 1875–1876
44thSamuel J. Randall
(1828–1890)		Pennsylvania 3December 4, 1876March 3, 1881 Himself 1876–1881
45th
46th
47thUnknown[b] Keifer 1881–1883
48thJohn G. Carlisle
(1834–1910)		Kentucky 6December 3, 1883March 3, 1889 Himself 1883–1889
49th
50th
51stWilliam S. Holman
(1822–1897)		Indiana 4March 4, 1889March 3, 1891 Reed 1889–1891
52ndCharles Frederick Crisp
(1845–1896)		Georgia 3December 8, 1891March 3, 1895 Himself 1891–1895
53rd
54thDavid B. Culberson
(1830–1900)		Texas 4March 4, 1895March 3, 1897 Reed 1895–1899
55thJames D. Richardson
(1843–1914)		Tennessee 5March 4, 1897March 3, 1903
56th Henderson 1899–1903
57th
58thJohn Sharp Williams
(1854–1932)		Mississippi 8March 4, 1903March 3, 1909 Cannon 1903–1911
59th
60th
61stChamp Clark
(1850–1921)		Missouri 9March 4, 1909March 2, 1921[e]
62nd Himself 1911–1919
63rd
64th
65th
66th Gillett 1919–1925
67thClaude Kitchin
(1869–1923)		North Carolina 2March 4, 1921March 4, 1923
68thFinis J. Garrett
(1875–1956)		Tennessee 9March 4, 1923March 3, 1929
69th Longworth 1925–1931
70th
71stJohn Nance Garner
(1868–1967)		Texas 15March 4, 1929March 3, 1933[f]
72nd Himself 1931–1933
73rdHenry Thomas Rainey
(1860–1934)		Illinois 20March 9, 1933August 19, 1934[e] Himself 1933–1934
74thJo Byrns
(1869–1936)		Tennessee 5January 3, 1935June 4, 1936[e] Himself 1935–1936
74thWilliam B. Bankhead
(1874–1940)		Alabama 7June 4, 1936September 15, 1940[e] Himself 1936–1940
75th
76th
76thSam Rayburn
(1882–1961)		Texas 4September 16, 1940November 16, 1961[e] Himself 1940–1947
77th
78th
79th
80th Martin 1947–1949
81st Himself 1949–1953
82nd
83rd Martin 1953–1955
84th Himself 1955–1961
85th
86th
87th
87thJohn W. McCormack
(1891–1980)		Massachusetts 12January 10, 1962January 3, 1971 Himself 1962–1971
88thMassachusetts 9
89th
90th
91st
92ndCarl Albert
(1908–2000)		Oklahoma 3January 21, 1971January 3, 1977 Himself 1971–1977
93rd
94th
95thTip O’Neill
(1912–1994)		Massachusetts 8January 4, 1977January 3, 1987 Himself 1977–1987
96th
97th
98th
99th
100thJim Wright
(1922–2015)		Texas 12January 6, 1987June 6, 1989[a] Himself 1987–1989
101st
101stTom Foley
(1929–2013)		Washington 5June 6, 1989January 3, 1995 Himself 1989–1995
102nd
103rd
104thDick Gephardt
(born 1941)		Missouri 3January 3, 1995January 3, 2003 Gingrich 1995–1999
105th
106th Hastert 1999–2007
107th
108thNancy Pelosi
(born 1940)		California 8January 3, 2003January 3, 2023
109th
110th Herself 2007–2011
111th
112th Boehner 2011–2015
113thCalifornia 12
114th
 Ryan 2015–2019
115th
116th Herself 2019–2023
117th
118thHakeem Jeffries
(born 1970)		New York 8January 3, 2023Incumbent McCarthy 2023
 McHenry[g] 2023
 Johnson 2023–present
119th

Notes

  1. ^ a b Resigned from office and from Congress.
  2. ^ a b c d e Whoever held this office during this Congress is unknown.
  3. ^ Alabama seceded from the Union on January 11, 1861, and Houston withdrew from Congress ten days later on January 21.
  4. ^ a b c d Whoever held this office during this Congress is unknown, although it was likely vacant due to the American Civil War.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Died in office.
  6. ^ Resigned to become Vice President of the United States.
  7. ^ This person served as speaker pro tempore.

List of chairs

Chairs are currently limited to two consecutive terms.

OfficeholderStateCongressTerm
James ThompsonPennsylvania31st1849–1851
N/A[3]32nd1851–1853
Edson B. OldsOhio33rd1853–1855
George Washington JonesTennessee34th1855–1857
N/A[4]35th1857–1859
George S. HoustonAlabama36th1859–1861
N/A[5]37th–40th1861–1869
William E. Niblack,
Samuel J. Randall[6]		Indiana,
Pennsylvania		41st1869–1871
N/A[7]42nd1871–1873
William E. NiblackIndiana43rd1873–1875
Lucius Q.C. LamarMississippi44th1875–1877
Hiester ClymerPennsylvania45th1877–1879
John F. HouseTennessee46th1879–1881
N/A[8]47th1881–1883
George W. GeddesOhio48th1883–1885
J. Randolph TuckerVirginia49th1885–1887
Samuel S. Cox[9]New York50th1887–1889
William S. HolmanIndiana51st–53rd1889–1895
David B. CulbersonTexas54th1895–1897
James D. RichardsonTennessee55th1897–1899
James HayVirginia56th–58th1899–1905
Robert L. HenryTexas59th1905–1907
Henry D. Clayton[10]Alabama60th–61st1907–1911
Albert S. BurlesonTexas62nd1911–1913
A. Mitchell PalmerPennsylvania63rd1913–1915
Edward W. SaundersVirginia64th–65th1915–1919
Arthur G. DeWaltPennsylvania66th1919–1921
Sam RayburnTexas67th1921–1923
Henry T. RaineyIllinois68th1923–1925
Charles D. CarterOklahoma69th1925–1927
Arthur H. GreenwoodIndiana70th1927–1929
David H. KincheloeKentucky71st1929–1930[11]
William W. ArnoldIllinois72nd1931–1933
Clarence F. LeaCalifornia73rd1933–1935
Edward T. TaylorColorado74th1935–1937
Robert L. DoughtonNorth Carolina75th1937–1939
John W. McCormackMassachusetts76th1939–1940[12]
Richard M. DuncanMissouri77th1941–1943
Harry R. SheppardCalifornia78th1943–1945
Jere CooperTennessee79th1945–1947
Aime J. ForandRhode Island80th1947–1949
Francis E. WalterPennsylvania81st1949–1951
Jere CooperTennessee82nd1951–1953
Wilbur D. MillsArkansas83rd1953–1955
John J. RooneyNew York84th1955–1957
Melvin PriceIllinois85th–86th1957–1961
Francis E. Walter[13]Pennsylvania87th–88th1961–1963
Albert ThomasTexas88th1964–1965
Eugene KeoghNew York89th1965–1967
Dan RostenkowskiIllinois90th–91st1967–1971
Olin TeagueTexas92nd–93rd1971–1975
Phillip BurtonCalifornia94th1976–1977
Thomas S. FoleyWashington95th–96th1977–1981
Gillis W. LongLouisiana97th–98th1981–1985
Richard A. GephardtMissouri99th–100th1985–1989
William H. Gray IIIPennsylvania101st1989
Steny H. HoyerMaryland101st–103rd1989–1995[14]
Vic FazioCalifornia104th–105th1995–1999
Martin FrostTexas106th–107th1999–2003
Bob MenendezNew Jersey108th–109th2003–2006[15]
James ClyburnSouth Carolina109th2006–2007
Rahm EmanuelIllinois110th2007–2009
John B. LarsonConnecticut111th–112th2009–2013
Xavier BecerraCalifornia113th–114th2013–2017
Joe CrowleyNew York115th2017–2019
Hakeem JeffriesNew York116th–117th2019–2023[16]
Pete AguilarCalifornia118th–119th2023–present

List of vice-chairs

The vice-chair of the Democratic Caucus ranks just below the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. In addition to other duties, the vice-chair has a seat on the Steering and Policy Committee.[17]

List of secretaries

The office of secretary of the Democratic Caucus preceded the office of vice-chair. Until its elimination in 1987, the office of secretary was reserved for a female member of the House.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ “Rules of the Democratic Caucus”. House Democrats. p. 5. Retrieved March 9, 2023. Rule 1. Caucus Membership A. All Members of the House of Representatives, the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, and the Delegates from American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands who are Members of the Democratic Party shall be prima facie Members of the Democratic Caucus of the House of Representatives.
  2. ^ Mizelle, Shawna (January 4, 2023). “Hakeem Jeffries to make history as the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress | CNN Politics”. CNN. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  3. ^ No clear records remain for this Congress.
  4. ^ No clear records remain for this Congress.
  5. ^ No clear records remain for these Congresses.
  6. ^ Caucus records show Representative
    Niblack and Representative Randall as both having served as chairman during the Congress,
    but no dates of service were specified.
  7. ^ Representative Fernando Wood of New York nominated the Democratic leadership
    slate in the House, but there is no other evidence to show he was elected caucus chairman.
  8. ^ Available data show that Representative John F. House nominated Samuel J. Randall as the Democratic candidate for Speaker, the traditional role of the caucus chairman. Later data show W.S. Rosecrans issuing the next call for a Democratic Caucus
    meeting, but there is no evidence to suggest that Rosecrans was actually elected caucus chairman.
  9. ^ Former Parliamentarian Clarence Cannon’s notes state “Cox died
    during this Congress and [Representative James B.] McCreary evidently succeeded or acted for
    him.” However, Representative Cox died on September 10, 1889, six months after the sine die
    adjournment of the 50th Congress and the convening of the 51st Congress.
  10. ^ Caucus records are contradictory for this period. They show the election of Representative James Hay as chairman on January 19, 1911, but do not mention a resignation by incumbent chairman Clayton, nor do they specify that Hay was elected chairman for the new Congress. Later, they show the election of Representative Albert S. Burleson on April 11, 1911.
  11. ^ Resigned from the House, October 5, 1930; there is no record of an election to fill the vacancy as caucus chair.
  12. ^ Resigned following election as majority (floor) leader, September 16, 1940; records do not indicate that a successor was chosen during the remainder of the Congress.
  13. ^ Died in office, May 31, 1963. Caucus chairman post vacant until
    January 21, 1964.
  14. ^ Representative Hoyer was elected Caucus Chairman on June 21, 1989, following
    the June 14, 1989, election of Representative William (Bill) H. Gray III as Majority Whip.
  15. ^ On January 16, 2006, Representative Menendez resigned from the House after
    he was appointed to the Senate.
  16. ^ “Hakeem Jeffries defeats Barbara Lee in battle for Dem Caucus chair”. Politico. November 28, 2018.
  17. ^ “Archived copy” (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2006. Retrieved December 21, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ “Center for American Women and Politics” (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
  19. ^ “Archived copy” (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 4, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. ^ Congressional Women: On the Secretary position


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Democratic_Caucus

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