View source for Senate Democratic Caucus

{{short description|Formal organization of U.S. Democratic Senators}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = Senate Democratic Caucus
| logo             = US Democratic Party 2025 logo (positive).svg
| colorcode        = {{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}
| leader1_title    = Part of
| leader1_name     = [[United States Senate]]
| leader2_title    = Chair and [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Floor Leader]]
| leader2_name     = [[Chuck Schumer]] ([[List of United States senators from New York|NY]])
| leader3_title    = [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Floor Whip]]
| leader3_name     = [[Dick Durbin]] ([[List of United States senators from Illinois|IL]])
| leader4_title    = Vice Chairs
| leader4_name     = [[Mark Warner]] ([[List of United States senators from Virginia|VA]])<br>{{no wrap|[[Elizabeth Warren]] ([[List of United States senators from Massachusetts|MA]])}}
| leader5_title    = Secretary
| leader5_name     = [[Tammy Baldwin]] ([[List of United States senators from Wisconsin|WI]])
| affiliation1_title = Affiliation
| affiliation1     = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]
| seats1_title     = Seats
| seats1           = {{composition bar|47|100|{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}}}
| colors           = {{color box|{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}}} [[Blue]]
| position         = [[Centre-left politics|Center-left]]
| ideology         = [[Modern liberalism in the United States|Modern liberalism]]
| website          = [https://www.democrats.senate.gov democrats.senate.gov]
| country          = the United States
}}
{{United States Senate}}
The '''Democratic Caucus of the United States Senate''', sometimes referred to as the '''Democratic Conference''', is the formal organization of all senators who are part of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] in the [[United States Senate]]. For the makeup of the [[119th United States Congress|119th Congress]], the [[caucus]] additionally includes two [[Independent politician|independent]] senators ([[Bernie Sanders]] of [[Vermont]], and [[Angus King]] of [[Maine]]) who caucus with the Democrats, bringing the current total to 47 members. The central organizational front for Democrats in the Senate, its primary function is communicating the party's message to all of its members under a single banner. The present chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus is [[Chuck Schumer]] of [[New York (state)|New York]].

== Current leadership ==
Effective with the start of the [[119th United States Congress|119th Congress]], the conference leadership is as follows:
* [[Senate Minority Leader|Democratic Leader]] [[Chuck Schumer]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: Leadership & Officers |url=https://www.senate.gov/senators/leadership.htm |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>
* [[Democratic Whip of the United States Senate|Democratic Whip]] [[Dick Durbin]]<ref name=":0" />
* Chair of [[United States Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee|Steering]] and [[United States Senate Democratic Policy Committee|Policy]] Committee [[Amy Klobuchar]]<ref name=":0" />
* Chair of Strategic Communications Committee [[Cory Booker]]<ref name=":0" />
* Vice Chair of the Caucus [[Elizabeth Warren]]<ref name=":0" />
* Vice Chair of the Caucus [[Mark Warner]]<ref name=":0" />
* Chair of Outreach [[Bernie Sanders]]<ref name=":0" />
* Caucus Secretary [[Tammy Baldwin]]<ref name=":0" />
* Vice Chair of Outreach [[Catherine Cortez Masto]]<ref name=":0" />
* Deputy Caucus Secretary [[Brian Schatz]]{{efn|Concurrently serves as Chief Deputy Whip on Durbin's Whip Operations Team.<ref name="whip team">{{Cite web |date=2024-12-04 |title=Durbin Announces Senate Democratic Whip Operations For 119th Congress |url=https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-announces-senate-democratic-whip-operations-for-119th-congress|access-date=2024-12-09 |website=Dick Durbin United States Senator Illinois Newsroom|language=en}}</ref>}}<ref name=":0" />
* Deputy Caucus Secretary [[Chris Murphy]]<ref name=":0" />
* Vice Chair of [[United States Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee|Steering]] and [[United States Senate Democratic Policy Committee|Policy]] Committee [[Jeanne Shaheen]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Rules for the Democratic Conference |url=https://www.democrats.senate.gov/rules-for-the-democratic-conference |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=www.democrats.senate.gov}}</ref>{{efn|name=vice chairs|According to the Rules of the Democratic Conference section VI.1 "Officers of the Conference" members included 2 vice chairs of the Policy & Communications Committee now restructured into 2 committees; Steering & Policy, vice chaired by [[Jeanne Shaheen]] and Strategic Communications, vice chaired by [[Tina Smith]]}}
* Vice Chair of Strategic Communications Committee [[Tina Smith]]<ref name=":1" />{{efn|name="vice chairs"}}
<!--* [[President pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate|Senate President pro tempore emerita]] [[Patty Murray]] (''honorary member'')-->

== History ==
The conference was formally organized on March 6, 1903, electing a chair to preside over its members and a secretary to keep minutes.  Until that time, this caucus was often disorganized, philosophically divided and had neither firm written rules of governance nor a clear mission.

==Chairs==
Since [[Oscar Underwood]]'s election in 1920, the chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus has also concurrently served as the [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|floor leader]] as part of an unwritten tradition.

{|class="wikitable" style="width:75%; text-align:center;"
|-
! Congress
! colspan="2" | Leader
! State
! Took office
! Left office
! colspan="2" | Majority Leader
|-
| [[43rd United States Congress|43rd]]
| rowspan="2" | [[File:John Stevenson.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | '''[[John W. Stevenson]]'''<br>{{small|(1812–1886)}}
| rowspan="2" | [[Kentucky]]
| rowspan="2" | {{dts|December 1873}}
| rowspan="2" | {{dts|March 4, 1877}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority|Although the Senate Majority Leader for this Congress is unknown, the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] had a majority.}}
|-
| [[44th United States Congress|44th]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority}}
|-
| [[45th United States Congress|45th]]
| rowspan="2" | [[File:William A. Wallace - Brady-Handy.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | '''[[William A. Wallace]]'''<br>{{small|(1827–1896)}}
| rowspan="2" | [[Pennsylvania]]
| rowspan="2" | {{dts|March 4, 1877}}
| rowspan="2" | {{dts|March 4, 1881}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority}}
|-
| [[46th United States Congress|46th]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown dem majority|Although the Senate Majority Leader for this Congress is unknown, the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] had a majority.}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[47th United States Congress|47th]]
| rowspan="3" | [[File:GeorgeHPendleton.png|150px]]
| rowspan="3" | '''[[George H. Pendleton]]'''<br>{{small|(1825–1889)}}
| rowspan="3" | [[Ohio]]
| rowspan="3" | {{dts|March 4, 1881}}
| rowspan="3" | {{dts|March 4, 1885}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|The [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] had a majority in the Senate for the first special Senate session of the 47th Congress from March to May 1881. Beginning with the second special Senate session in October 1881 and continuing until the end of the 47th Congress, the Senate was split between parties.}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent}};" | &nbsp;
|-
| [[48th United States Congress|48th]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority}}
|-
| [[49th United States Congress|49th]]
| rowspan="3" | [[File:James B. Beck - Brady-Handy.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="3" | '''[[James B. Beck]]'''<br>{{small|(1822–1890)}}
| rowspan="3" | [[Kentucky]]
| rowspan="3" | {{dts|March 4, 1885}}
| rowspan="3" | {{dts|May 3, 1890}}{{efn|name=died|Died in office.}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority}}
|-
| [[50th United States Congress|50th]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority}}
|-
| [[51st United States Congress|51st]]
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority}}
|-
| 51st
| rowspan="5" | [[File:Arthur Pue Gorman.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="5" | '''[[Arthur Pue Gorman]]'''<br>{{small|(1839–1906)}}
| rowspan="5" | [[Maryland]]
| rowspan="5" | {{dts|May 3, 1890}}
| rowspan="5" | {{dts|April 29, 1898}}{{efn|name=resigned|Resigned from office.}}
|-
| [[52nd United States Congress|52nd]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority}}
|-
| [[53rd United States Congress|53rd]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| ''Himself'' {{small|1893–1895}}
|-
| [[54th United States Congress|54th]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority}}
|-
| [[55th United States Congress|55th]]
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority}}
|-
| 55th
| [[File:David Turpie.jpg|150px]]
| '''[[David Turpie]]'''<br>{{small|(1828–1909)}}
| [[Indiana]]
| {{dts|April 29, 1898}}
| {{dts|March 4, 1899}}
|-
| [[56th United States Congress|56th]]
| rowspan="2" | [[File:James Jones.png|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | '''[[James Kimbrough Jones]]'''<br>{{small|(1839–1908)}}
| rowspan="2" | [[Arkansas]]
| rowspan="2" | {{dts|December 1899}}
| rowspan="2" | {{dts|March 4, 1903}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority}}
|-
| [[57th United States Congress|57th]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority}}
|-
| [[58th United States Congress|58th]]
| rowspan="2" | [[File:Arthur Pue Gorman.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | '''[[Arthur Pue Gorman]]'''<br>{{small|(1839–1906)}}
| rowspan="2" | [[Maryland]]
| rowspan="2" | {{dts|March 4, 1903}}
| rowspan="2" | {{dts|June 4, 1906}}{{efn|name=died}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[59th United States Congress|59th]]
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority}}
|-
| [[File:Jblackburn.jpg|150px]]
| '''[[Joseph Clay Stiles Blackburn]]'''<br>{{small|(1838–1918)}}
| [[Kentucky]]
| {{dts|June 4, 1906}}
| {{dts|March 4, 1907}}
|-
| [[60th United States Congress|60th]]
| rowspan="2" | [[File:Charles Allen Culberson.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | '''[[Charles Allen Culberson]]'''<br>{{small|(1855–1925)}}
| rowspan="2" | [[Texas]]
| rowspan="2" | {{dts|December 1907}}
| rowspan="2" | {{dts|December 9, 1909}}{{efn|name=resigned}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[61st United States Congress|61st]]
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority}}
|-
| [[File:Hernando Money - Brady-Handy.jpg|150px]]
| '''[[Hernando Money]]'''<br>{{small|(1839–1912)}}
| [[Mississippi]]
| {{dts|December 9, 1909}}
| {{dts|March 4, 1911}}
|-
| [[62nd United States Congress|62nd]]
| [[File:Thomas Staples Martin.jpg|150px]]
| '''[[Thomas S. Martin]]'''<br>{{small|(1847–1919)}}
| [[Virginia]]
| {{dts|April 1911}}
| {{dts|March 4, 1913}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | ''Unknown''{{efn|name=unknown rep majority}}
|-
| [[63rd United States Congress|63rd]]
| rowspan="2" | [[File:JohnWKern.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | '''[[John W. Kern]]'''<br>{{small|(1849–1917)}}
| rowspan="2" | [[Indiana]]
| rowspan="2" | {{dts|March 4, 1913}}
| rowspan="2" | {{dts|March 4, 1917}}
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="2" | ''Himself'' {{small|1913–1917}}
|-
| [[64th United States Congress|64th]]
|-
| [[65th United States Congress|65th]]
| rowspan="2" | [[File:Thomas Staples Martin.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | '''[[Thomas S. Martin]]'''<br>{{small|(1847–1919)}}
| rowspan="2" | [[Virginia]]
| rowspan="2" | {{dts|March 4, 1917}}
| rowspan="2" | {{dts|November 12, 1919}}{{efn|name=died}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| ''Himself'' {{small|1917–1919}}
|-
| [[66th United States Congress|66th]]
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[Henry Cabot Lodge|Lodge]] {{small|1919–1924}}
|-style="background-color:#E6E6AA;"
| 66th
| [[File:HITCHCOCK, G.M. HONORABLE LCCN2016857525 (cropped).jpg|150px]]
| [[Gilbert Hitchcock]]{{efn|name=acting|Acting chair.}}<br>{{small|(1859–1934)}}
| [[Nebraska]]
| {{dts|November 12, 1919}}
| {{dts|April 27, 1920}}
|-
| 66th
| rowspan="3" | [[File:Oscar W. Underwood.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="3" | '''[[Oscar Underwood]]'''<br>{{small|(1862–1929)}}
| rowspan="3" | [[Alabama]]
| rowspan="3" | {{dts|April 27, 1920}}
| rowspan="3" | {{dts|December 3, 1923}}
|-
| [[67th United States Congress|67th]]
|-
| [[68th United States Congress|68th]]
|-
| 68th
| rowspan="8" | [[File:Joseph T. Robinson cropped.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="8" | '''[[Joseph Taylor Robinson]]'''<br>{{small|(1872–1937)}}
| rowspan="8" | [[Arkansas]]
| rowspan="8" | {{dts|December 3, 1923}}
| rowspan="8" | {{dts|July 14, 1937}}{{efn|name=died}}
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[Charles Curtis|Curtis]] {{small|1924–1929}}
|-
| [[69th United States Congress|69th]]
|-
| [[70th United States Congress|70th]]
|-
| [[71st United States Congress|71st]]
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[James Eli Watson|Watson]] {{small|1929–1933}}
|-
| [[72nd United States Congress|72nd]]
|-
| [[73rd United States Congress|73rd]]
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="3" | ''Himself'' {{small|1933–1937}}
|-
| [[74th United States Congress|74th]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[75th United States Congress|75th]]
|-
| rowspan="6" | [[File:Alben Barkley, Vice-President.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="6" | '''[[Alben W. Barkley]]'''<br>{{small|(1877–1956)}}
| rowspan="6" | [[Kentucky]]
| rowspan="6" | {{dts|July 14, 1937}}
| rowspan="6" | {{dts|January 3, 1949}}{{efn|name=resigned veep|Resigned to become [[Vice President of the United States]].}}
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="5" | ''Himself'' {{small|1937–1947}}
|-
| [[76th United States Congress|76th]]
|-
| [[77th United States Congress|77th]]
|-
| [[78th United States Congress|78th]]
|-
| [[79th United States Congress|79th]]
|-
| [[80th United States Congress|80th]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[Wallace H. White|White]] {{small|1947–1949}}
|-
| [[81st United States Congress|81st]]
| [[File:ScottWikeLucas.jpg|150px]]
| '''[[Scott W. Lucas]]'''<br>{{small|(1892–1968)}}
| [[Illinois]]
| {{dts|January 3, 1949}}
| {{dts|January 3, 1951}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| ''Himself'' {{small|1949–1951}}
|-
| [[82nd United States Congress|82nd]]
| [[File:Mcfarland ernest.jpg|150px]]
| '''[[Ernest McFarland]]'''<br>{{small|(1894–1984)}}
| [[Arizona]]
| {{dts|January 3, 1951}}
| {{dts|January 3, 1953}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| ''Himself'' {{small|1951–1953}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[83rd United States Congress|83rd]]
| rowspan="5" | [[File:Senator Lyndon Johnson.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="5" | '''[[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'''<br>{{small|(1908–1973)}}
| rowspan="5" | [[Texas]]
| rowspan="5" | {{dts|January 3, 1953}}
| rowspan="5" | {{dts|January 3, 1961}}{{efn|name=resigned veep}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[Robert A. Taft|Taft]] {{small|1953}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[William Knowland|Knowland]] {{small|1953–1955}}
|-
| [[84th United States Congress|84th]]
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="3" | ''Himself'' {{small|1955–1961}}
|-
| [[85th United States Congress|85th]]
|-
| [[86th United States Congress|86th]]
|-
| [[87th United States Congress|87th]]
| rowspan="8" | [[File:Mike mansfield cropped.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="8" | '''[[Mike Mansfield]]'''<br>{{small|(1903–2001)}}
| rowspan="8" | [[Montana]]
| rowspan="8" | {{dts|January 3, 1961}}
| rowspan="8" | {{dts|January 3, 1977}}
| rowspan="8" style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="8" | ''Himself'' {{small|1961–1977}}
|-
| [[88th United States Congress|88th]]
|-
| [[89th United States Congress|89th]]
|-
| [[90th United States Congress|90th]]
|-
| [[91st United States Congress|91st]]
|-
| [[92nd United States Congress|92nd]]
|-
| [[93rd United States Congress|93rd]]
|-
| [[94th United States Congress|94th]]
|-
| [[95th United States Congress|95th]]
| rowspan="6" | [[File:Robert Byrd official portrait.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="6" | '''[[Robert Byrd]]'''<br>{{small|(1917–2010)}}
| rowspan="6" | [[West Virginia]]
| rowspan="6" | {{dts|January 3, 1977}}
| rowspan="6" | {{dts|January 3, 1989}}
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="2" | ''Himself'' {{small|1977–1981}}
|-
| [[96th United States Congress|96th]]
|-
| [[97th United States Congress|97th]]
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[Howard Baker|Baker]] {{small|1981–1985}}
|-
| [[98th United States Congress|98th]]
|-
| [[99th United States Congress|99th]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[Bob Dole|Dole]] {{small|1985–1987}}
|-
| [[100th United States Congress|100th]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| ''Himself'' {{small|1987–1989}}
|-
| [[101st United States Congress|101st]]
| rowspan="3" | [[File:George Mitchell in Tel Aviv July 26, 2009.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="3" | '''[[George J. Mitchell]]'''<br>{{small|(born 1933)}}
| rowspan="3" | [[Maine]]
| rowspan="3" | {{dts|January 3, 1989}}
| rowspan="3" | {{dts|January 3, 1995}}
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="3" | ''Himself'' {{small|1989–1995}}
|-
| [[102nd United States Congress|102nd]]
|-
| [[103rd United States Congress|103rd]]
|-
| [[104th United States Congress|104th]]
| rowspan="9" | [[File:Tom Daschle, official Senate photo.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="9" | '''[[Tom Daschle]]'''<br>{{small|(born 1947)}}
| rowspan="9" | [[South Dakota]]
| rowspan="9" | {{dts|January 3, 1995}}
| rowspan="9" | {{dts|January 3, 2005}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[Bob Dole|Dole]] {{small|1995–1996}}
|-
| 104th
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[Trent Lott|Lott]] {{small|1996–2001}}
|-
| [[105th United States Congress|105th]]
|-
| [[106th United States Congress|106th]]
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[107th United States Congress|107th]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| ''Himself'' {{small|2001}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[Trent Lott|Lott]] {{small|2001}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| ''Himself'' {{small|2001–2002}}
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[Trent Lott|Lott]] {{small|2002–2003}}
|-
| [[108th United States Congress|108th]]
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[Bill Frist|Frist]] {{small|2003–2007}}
|-
| [[109th United States Congress|109th]]
| rowspan="6" | [[File:Harry Reid official portrait 2009.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="6" | '''[[Harry Reid]]'''<br>{{small|(1939–2021)}}
| rowspan="6" | [[Nevada]]
| rowspan="6" | {{dts|January 3, 2005}}
| rowspan="6" | {{dts|January 3, 2017}}
|-
| [[110th United States Congress|110th]]
| rowspan="4" style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="4" | ''Himself'' {{small|2007–2015}}
|-
| [[111th United States Congress|111th]]
|-
| [[112th United States Congress|112th]]
|-
| [[113th United States Congress|113th]]
|-
| [[114th United States Congress|114th]]
| rowspan="4" style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="4" style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[Mitch McConnell|McConnell]] {{small|2015–2021}}
|-
| [[115th United States Congress|115th]]
| rowspan="6" | [[File:Chuck Schumer official photo.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="6" | '''[[Chuck Schumer]]'''<br>{{small|(born 1950)}}
| rowspan="6" | [[New York (state)|New York]]
| rowspan="6" | {{dts|January 3, 2017}}
| rowspan="6" | ''[[Incumbent]]''
|-
| [[116th United States Congress|116th]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[117th United States Congress|117th]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="2" | ''Himself'' {{small|2021–2025}}
|-
| [[118th United States Congress|118th]]
|-
| [[119th United States Congress|119th]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | &nbsp;
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | [[John Thune|Thune]] {{small|2025–present}}
|}

===Notes===
{{Notelist}}

== Vice chairs ==
After the victory of Democrats in the [[United States elections, 2006|midterm elections of 2006]], an overwhelming majority in the conference wanted to reward Chuck Schumer, then the chair of the [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]], with a position in the leadership hierarchy.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} In response, then-Democratic Leader [[Harry Reid]] created the position of vice-chair when Democrats formally took control in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bolton |first1=Alexander |title=Schumer becomes new Senate majority leader |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/524322-schumer-becomes-new-senate-majority-leader |access-date=January 23, 2021 |work=The Hill |date=January 20, 2021}}</ref> Schumer ascended to Reid's position following his retirement after the [[United States Senate elections, 2016|2016 elections]]. The position was then split, with one co-chair awarded to Mark Warner and the other awarded to Elizabeth Warren.
<!--* [[Chuck Schumer]] (2007–2017)
* [[Mark Warner]] and [[Elizabeth Warren]] (2017–present)-->

{| class="wikitable"
!Congress
!Vice Chair(s)
!State
!Term start
!Term end
|-
|[[110th United States Congress|110th]]
|rowspan=5|<div align=center>[[Chuck Schumer]]</div>
|rowspan=5|<div align=center>[[New York (state)|New York]]</div>
|rowspan=5|January 3, 2007
|rowspan=5|January 3, 2017
|-
|[[111th United States Congress|111th]]
|-
|[[112th United States Congress|112th]]
|-
|[[113th United States Congress|113th]]
|-
|[[114th United States Congress|114th]]
|-
|[[115th United States Congress|115th]]
|rowspan=5|<div align=center>[[Elizabeth Warren]]<br>&<br>[[Mark Warner]]</div>
|rowspan=5|<div align=center>[[Massachusetts]]<br><br>[[Virginia]]</div>
|rowspan=5|January 3, 2017
|rowspan=5|''present''
|-
|[[116th United States Congress|116th]]
|-
|[[117th United States Congress|117th]]
|-
|[[118th United States Congress|118th]]
|-
|[[119th United States Congress|119th]]
|-
|}

==Caucus secretary==
The United States Senate Democratic Conference Secretary, also called the Caucus Secretary was previously considered the number-three position, behind the party's floor leader and the party's whip, until in 2006, when Democratic leader [[Harry Reid]] created the new position of Vice-Chairman of the caucus. Now, the secretary is the fourth-highest ranking position. The conference secretary is responsible for taking notes and aiding the party leadership when senators of the party meet or caucus together.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Conference_Secretaries.htm|title=Conference Secretaries|website=U.S. Senate}}</ref>

The first conference secretary was Sen. [[Edward W. Carmack]] of Tennessee, who was elected in March 1903.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Senate_Democratic_Caucus_Organized.htm|title=Senate Democratic Caucus Organized|website=U.S. Senate}}</ref>

The current conference secretary is Sen. [[Tammy Baldwin]] of Wisconsin, who assumed the office in January 2017.

{| class=wikitable
!Congress
!Secretary
!State
!Term start
!Term end
|-
|[[58th United States Congress|58th]]
|rowspan=2|<div align=center>[[Edward W. Carmack]]</div>
|rowspan=2|<div align=center>[[Tennessee]]</div>
|rowspan=2|March 6, 1903
|rowspan=2|March 3, 1907
|-
|[[59th United States Congress|59th]]
|-
|[[60th United States Congress|60th]]
|rowspan=2|<div align=center>[[Robert Latham Owen|Robert Owen]]</div>
|rowspan=2|<div align=center>[[Oklahoma]]</div>
|rowspan=2|December 3, 1907{{efn|The 60th Congress began on March 4, 1907; however Owen did not take office until the start of the 1st Session of the 60th Congress on December 2, 1907.}}
|rowspan=2|March 4, 1911
|-
|[[61st United States Congress|61st]]
|-
|[[62nd United States Congress|62nd]]
|<div align=center>[[William E. Chilton]]</div>
|<div align=center>[[Virginia]]</div>
|March 4, 1911
|March 4, 1913
|-
|[[63rd United States Congress|63rd]]
|<div align=center>[[Willard Saulsbury Jr.]]</div>
|<div align=center>[[Delaware]]</div>
|March 4, 1913
|March 3, 1915
|-
|rowspan=2|[[64th United States Congress|64th]]
|<div align=center>Willard Saulsbury Jr.</div>
|<div align=center>Delaware</div>
|March 3, 1915
|December 14, 1916
|-
|<div align=center>[[Key Pittman]] ({{small|Acting}})</div>
|<div align=center>[[Nevada]]</div>
|December 14, 1916
|March 3, 1917
|-
|[[65th United States Congress|65th]]
|rowspan=5|<div align=center>[[William H. King]]</div>
|rowspan=5|<div align=center>[[Utah]]</div>
|rowspan=5|March 4, 1917
|rowspan=5|March 3, 1927
|-
|[[66th United States Congress|66th]]
|-
|[[67th United States Congress|67th]]
|-
|[[68th United States Congress|68th]]
|-
|[[69th United States Congress|69th]]
|-
|[[70th United States Congress|70th]]
|rowspan=5|<div align=center>[[Hugo Black]]</div>
|rowspan=5|<div align=center>[[Alabama]]</div>
|rowspan=5|March 4, 1927
|rowspan=5|January 3, 1937
|-
|[[71st United States Congress|71st]]
|-
|[[72nd United States Congress|72nd]]
|-
|[[73rd United States Congress|73rd]]
|-
|[[74th United States Congress|74th]]
|-
|[[75th United States Congress|75th]]
|rowspan=3|<div align=center>[[Joshua B. Lee]]</div>
|rowspan=3|<div align=center>[[Oklahoma]]</div>
|rowspan=3|January 3, 1937
|rowspan=3|January 3, 1943
|-
|[[76th United States Congress|76th]]
|-
|[[77th United States Congress|77th]]
|-
|[[78th United States Congress|78th]]
|<div align=center>[[Francis T. Maloney]]</div>
|[[Connecticut]]
|January 3, 1943
|January 3, 1945
|-
|[[79th United States Congress|79th]]
|rowspan=4|<div align=center>[[Brien McMahon]]</div>
|rowspan=4|<div align=center>[[Connecticut]]</div>
|rowspan=4|January 3, 1945
|rowspan=4|July 28, 1952
|-
|[[80th United States Congress|80th]]
|-
|[[81st United States Congress|81st]]
|-
|[[82nd United States Congress|82nd]]
|-
|[[83rd United States Congress|83rd]]
|rowspan=3|<div align=center>[[Thomas C. Hennings Jr.|Thomas Hennings]]</div>
|rowspan=3|<div align=center>[[Missouri]]</div>
|rowspan=3|January 3, 1953
|rowspan=3|January 3, 1959
|-
|[[84th United States Congress|84th]]
|-
|[[85th United States Congress|85th]]
|-
|rowspan=2|[[86th United States Congress|86th]]
|<div align=center>Thomas Hennings</div>
|<div align=center>Missouri</div>
|January 3, 1959
|September 13, 1960
|-
|<div align=center>[[George Smathers]]</div>
|<div align=center>[[Florida]]</div>
|September 3, 1960
|January 3, 1961
|-
|[[87th United States Congress|87th]]
|rowspan=3|<div align=center>George Smathers</div>
|rowspan=3|<div align=center>Florida</div>
|rowspan=3|January 3, 1961
|rowspan=3|January 3, 1967
|-
|[[88th United States Congress|88th]]
|-
|[[89th United States Congress|89th]]
|-
|[[90th United States Congress|90th]]
|rowspan=2|<div align=center>[[Robert Byrd]]</div>
|rowspan=2|<div align=center>[[West Virginia]]</div>
|rowspan=2|January 3, 1967
|rowspan=2|January 3, 1971
|-
|[[91st United States Congress|91st]]
|-
|[[92nd United States Congress|92nd]]
|rowspan=3|<div align=center>[[Frank Moss (politician)|Ted Moss]]</div>
|rowspan=3|<div align=center>[[Utah]]</div>
|rowspan=3|January 3, 1971
|rowspan=3|January 3, 1977
|-
|[[93rd United States Congress|93rd]]
|-
|[[94th United States Congress|94th]]
|-
|[[95th United States Congress|95th]]
|rowspan=6|<div align=center>[[Daniel Inouye]]</div>
|rowspan=6|<div align=center>[[Hawaii]]</div>
|rowspan=6|January 3, 1977
|rowspan=6|January 3, 1989
|-
|[[96th United States Congress|96th]]
|-
|[[97th United States Congress|97th]]
|-
|[[98th United States Congress|98th]]
|-
|[[99th United States Congress|99th]]
|-
|[[100th United States Congress|100th]]
|-
|[[101st United States Congress|101st]]
|rowspan=3|<div align=center>[[David Pryor]]</div>
|rowspan=3|<div align=center>[[Arkansas]]</div>
|rowspan=3|January 3, 1989
|rowspan=3|January 3, 1995
|-
|[[102nd United States Congress|102nd]]
|-
|[[103rd United States Congress|103rd]]
|-
|[[104th United States Congress|104th]]
|rowspan=5|<div align=center>[[Barbara Mikulski]]</div>
|rowspan=5|<div align=center>[[Maryland]]</div>
|rowspan=5|January 3, 1995
|rowspan=5|January 3, 2005
|-
|[[105th United States Congress|105th]]
|-
|[[106th United States Congress|106th]]
|-
|[[107th United States Congress|107th]]
|-
|[[108th United States Congress|108th]]
|-
|[[109th United States Congress|109th]]
|<div align=center>[[Debbie Stabenow]]</div>
|<div align=center>[[Michigan]]</div>
|January 3, 2005
|January 3, 2007
|-
|[[110th United States Congress|110th]]
|rowspan=5|<div align=center>[[Patty Murray]]</div>
|rowspan=5|<div align=center>[[Washington (state)|Washington]]</div>
|rowspan=5|January 3, 2007
|rowspan=5|January 3, 2017
|-
|[[111th United States Congress|111th]]
|-
|[[112th United States Congress|112th]]
|-
|[[113th United States Congress|113th]]
|-
|[[114th United States Congress|114th]]
|-
|[[115th United States Congress|115th]]
|rowspan=5|<div align=center>[[Tammy Baldwin]]</div>
|rowspan=5|<div align=center>[[Wisconsin]]</div>
|rowspan=5|January 3, 2017
|rowspan=5|'''''Incumbent'''''
|-
|[[116th United States Congress|116th]]
|-
|[[117th United States Congress|117th]]
|-
|[[118th United States Congress|118th]]
|-
|[[119th United States Congress|119th]]
|-
|}

=== Deputy Caucus Secretary ===
On December 8, 2022, Sen. [[Brian Schatz]] of Hawaii was elected to the newly created position of '''Deputy Caucus Secretary''', assuming the office at the beginning of the [[118th United States Congress|118th Congress]] on January 3, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3766968-schumer-re-elected-as-senate-majority-leader/|title=Schumer reelected as Senate majority leader|website=The Hill}}</ref> This was an elevation from his previous leadership role as Senate Democratic Chief Deputy Whip. On January 3, 2025, [[Chris Murphy]] was also appointed to this position.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hagen |first=Lisa |date=2024-12-03 |title=Chris Murphy to join Senate leadership ranks in next Congress |url=https://ctmirror.org/2024/12/03/chris-murphy-to-join-senate-leadership-ranks-in-next-congress/ |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=CT Mirror |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Notes ==
<references group="lower-alpha" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* Donald A. Ritchie (ed) (1999). ''Minutes of the Senate Democratic Conference: Fifty-eighth through Eighty-eighth Congress, 1903-1964''. Washington, D.C. GPO. Available online in [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=105_cong_documents&docid=f:sd020.105.pdf PDF] or [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=105_cong_documents&docid=f:sd020.105 text] format.

== External links ==
* [http://www.democrats.senate.gov/ Official Home of the Senate Democratic Caucus on the Internet]
* [https://www.senate.gov/reference/common/generic/party_leadership.htm Senate Party Leadership] – much of this article's content was adapted from this useful public domain resource
* [https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Senate_Democratic_Caucus_Organized.htm First Formal Organization of the Senate Democratic Caucus]

{{USPartyConference}}
{{USCongress}}
{{Democratic Party (United States)}}

[[Category:Democratic Party (United States) organizations|Caucus of the United States Senate]]
[[Category:Leaders of the United States Senate|Democratic Caucus]]
[[Category:United States Senate]]
[[Category:Lists related to the United States Senate]]