Meetings for party leadership elections and respective Democratic and Republican caucuses in the House and Senate dominated behind-the-scenes during the first week of the lame duck session. Many of the same faces will serve in the leadership in the next Congress, but some will be in different roles.
John Boehner (R-Ohio) easily won his party’s nomination to be the Speaker of the House in the 112th Congress. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the outgoing Speaker, overcame challenges within her own party to win a “secret ballot” vote 150-43 over Health Shuler (R-N.C.), a moderate, rank and file member. Many of the votes against Pelosi were from the caucus’ most moderate members.
In the Senate, each party’s top leadership remains unchanged.
While the leadership elections lacked drama, many congressional committees will see dramatic changes when their respective steering committees meet to decide the leaders. For AGC’s outlook on potential changes, click here.
House Republicans elected the following leaders for the 112th Congress:
- Speaker: John Boehner (R-Ohio)
- Majority Leader: Eric Cantor (R-Va.)
- Majority Whip: Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)
- Conference Chairman: Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas)
- National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman: Pete Sessions (R-Texas)
- Study Committee Chairman: Tom Price (R-Ga.)
- Conference Vice Chairwoman: Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.)
- Conference Secretary: John Carter (R-Texas)
- Freshman Representatives: Kristi Noem (S.D) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.)
- House Minority Leader: Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)
- Minority Whip: Steny Hoyer (D-Md.)
- Assistant Leader: Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.)
- Caucus Chairman: John Larson (D-Conn.)
- Caucus Vice Chairman: Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.)
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman: will be appointed by the Minority Leader.
- Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-Nev.)
- President Pro Tempore: Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)
- Assistant Majority Leader: Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)
- Vice Chair of the Conference and Chair of the Democratic Policy Committee: Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.)
- Secretary of the Conference: Patty Murray (D-Wash.)
- Vice Chair of the Democratic Policy Committee: Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)
- Chair of Steering and Outreach Committee: Mark Begich (D-Alaska)
- Republican Leader: Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)
- Republican Whip: Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.)
- Republican Conference Chair: Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.)
- Republican Conference Vice Chair: John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)
- Republican Policy Committee Chairman: John Thune (R-S.D.)
- National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman: John Cornyn (R-Texas)