Order Code RL30704
Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Major Leadership Election Contests
In the Senate: A 28-Year Survey
Updated April 25, 2003
Mildred Amer
Specialist in American National Government
Government and Finance Division
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress
Major Leadership Election Contests in the Senate:
A 28-Year Survey
Summary
This report contains data on elections in the Democratic and Republican party
conferences for principal congressional leaders within each party from the 94th
through the 108th Congresses. It reflects actual balloting. Also identified are the six
Senators who have served as Presidents pro tempore of the Senate, the two who have
served as deputy Presidents pro tempore, and the one Senator who has served as
President pro tempore emeritus. These are largely positions of honor, for which there
is no formal election in either party conference.
Other tables provide the names and states of the candidates for each major party
office, the Congress(es) in which they were running, and the votes they received.
Also noted are Senators elected with no opposition.
In numerous instances, leaders were selected without opposition. In cases where
published accounts did not mention contests for a particular office, it was assumed
there was only one candidate. The data do not include notices of announced
candidacies that were abandoned before conference voting took place.
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
List of Tables
Table 1. Presidents Pro Tempore of the Senate, 94th -108th Congresses . . . . . . . . 3
Table 2. Presidents Pro Tempore Emeritus of the Senate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Table 3. Deputy Presidents Pro Tempore of the Senate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Table 4. Senate Democratic Floor Leaders and Conference Chairmen . . . . . . . . 5
Table 5. Senate Republican Floor Leaders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Table 6. Senate Democratic Whips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Table 7. Senate Republican Whips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Table 8. Senate Republican Conference Chairmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Table 9. Senate Democratic Conference Secretaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Table 10. Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Table 11. Senate Republican Conference Secretaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Table 12. Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairmen . . . . . . . . . . 14
Table 13. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairmen . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
The author would like to acknowledge the assistance of Mike Kowlakowski in
the preparation of this report.
Major Leadership Election Contests
In the Senate: A 28-Year Survey
Introduction
This report contains balloting data on the elections in the Democratic and
Republican party conferences for principal congressional leaders from the 94th
through the 108th Congresses. Table 1 identifies the seven Senators who have served
as Presidents pro tempore of the Senate. This position is generally reserved for the
majority party Senator with the party’s longest continuous Senate service, but there
is no formal election in either party conference for the position. Table 2 identifies
the two Senators who have been designated to the honorary position of President pro
tempore emeritus, and Table 3 identifies the two Senators who have been elected to
the honorary position of deputy President pro tempore, positions for which there is
no formal election by either party.
The other tables provide the names and states of the candidates for each major
party office, the Congress(es) in which they ran, and the votes they received. Also
noted are Senators elected with no opposition. Although most conference balloting
took place prior to the convening of a new Congress, in some cases leadership
elections were held to fill vacancies during a Congress. In the 107th Congress, the
majority party switched, thus causing changes in the positions of majority leader and
majority whip.
Tables 4-13 provide data on elections for the positions of:
! Senate Democratic Floor Leaders and Conference Chairmen
! Senate Republican Floor Leaders
! Senate Democratic Whips
! Senate Republican Whips
! Senate Republican Conference Chairmen
! Senate Democratic Conference Secretaries
! Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairmen
! Senate Republican Conference Secretaries
! Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairmen
! National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairmen
In numerous instances, leaders were selected without opposition. Where races
were contested, most were decided after one ballot. However, in the 99th Congress,
it took four ballots to elect the Republican floor leader and two ballots to elect the
Republican whip. In the 102nd and 104th Congresses, two ballots were needed to elect
the chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. When published accounts
did not mention a contest for a particular office, it was assumed there was only one
CRS-2
candidate. The data do not include notices of announced candidacies that were
abandoned before conference voting took place.
The sources for this report include various editions of Congressional Quarterly
Weekly Reports, Congressional Staff Directories, and press accounts.
CRS-3
Table 1. Presidents Pro Tempore of the Senate,
94th -108th Congresses
Congress
President Pro
State
Date Elected a
Tempore
94th
James O. Eastland
D-MS
no election
95th
James O. Eastland
D-MS
no election
96th
Warren G. Magnuson
D-WA
Jan. 15, 1979
96th
Milton R. Young b
R-ND
Dec. 4, 1980
97th
Strom Thurmond
R-SC
Jan. 5, 1981
98th
Strom Thurmond
R-SC
no election
99th
Strom Thurmond
R-SC
no election
100th
John C. Stennis
D-MS
Jan. 6, 1987
101st
Robert C. Byrd
D-WV
Jan. 3, 1989
102nd
Robert C. Byrd
D-WV
no election
103rd
Robert C. Byrd
D-WV
no election
104th
Strom Thurmond
R-SC
Jan. 4, 1995
105th
Strom Thurmond
R-SC
no election
106th
Strom Thurmond
R-SC
no election
107th
Strom Thurmond
R-SC
no election
107th
Robert C. Byrd
D-WV
June 6, 2001c
108th
Ted Stevens
R-AK
Jan. 7, 2003
a. The President pro tempore of the Senate is one of only three legislative officers established by the
U.S. Constitution. The other two are the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Vice
President of the United States, who also serves as President of the Senate. The Constitution
designates the President pro tempore to serve in the Vice President’s absence. The Senate
generally elects by resolution a specified Senator president pro tempore. These resolutions are
usually agreed to by voice vote. On rare occasions, the minority has offered an amendment
naming its candidate. Such an amendment is normally defeated by voice vote. The President
pro tempore is not reelected at the beginning of a Congress unless party control changes, or the
Senator serving as President pro tempore has been elected to a new Senate term. Prior to 1890,
the Senate elected a President pro tempore whenever the Vice President was not in attendance.
When the Vice President returned, the President pro tempore lost his place. When the Vice
President was again absent, the Senate elected a President pro tempore, in many instances the
same Senator who had previously occupied the office. By the standing order agreed to on
March 12, 1890, the Senate declared that the President pro tempore shall hold the office during
“the pleasure of the Senate and until another is elected, and shall execute the duties thereof
during all future absences of the Vice President until the Senate does otherwise order.”
Contemporary Presidents pro tempore now serve as long as their party holds a majority in the
Senate.
CRS-4
b. Senator Young was elected to serve as President pro tempore for one day prior to his Senate
retirement. His party was in the minority at the time. Senator Magnuson then resumed the
presidency pro tempore for the balance of the 96th Congress.
c. Senator Byrd was elected President pro tempore for the 107th Congress when the Democrats
regained control of the Senate on June 6, 2001.
Table 2. Presidents Pro Tempore Emeritus of the Senate
Congress
President Pro Tempore
Party–State
Dates
Emeritus
107th Strom
Thurmond
a
R-SC
June 6, 2001-
Jan. 3, 2003
108th
Robert C. Byrd b
D-WV
Jan. 15, 2003-
a When the Senate party control changed in June 2001, Senator Thurmond, who had been Senate
President pro tempore, was designated President pro tempore emeritus. See: “Thanking and
Electing Strom Thurmond President Pro Tempore Emeritus,” Congressional Record, daily
edition, vol. 147, June 6, 2001, p. S5844.
b The Senate designated Senator Byrd President pro tempore emeritus after the convening of the 108th
Congress and the election of Senator Stevens as President pro tempore. See: “Thanks to the
Honorable Robert C. Byrd and His Designation as President Pro Tempore Emeritus,”
Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 149, January 15, 2003, p. S843.
Table 3. Deputy Presidents Pro Tempore of the Senate
Congress
Deputy President
Party—State
Dates
Pro Tempore
95th
Hubert H. Humphrey a
D—MN
Jan. 5, 1977-
Jan. 13, 1978
100th
George J. Mitchell b
D—ME
Jan. 28, 1987-
Nov. 29, 1988 c
a. Pursuant to S.Res. 17, agreed to January 10, 1977, the Senate established (effective January 5,
1977) the post of deputy President pro tempore of the Senate to be held by “any Member of the
Senate who has held the Office of President of the United States or Vice President of the United
States.” Senator Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota held this position until his death on January
13, 1978. See “Establishment of the Office of Deputy President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and
for Other Purposes,”Congressional Record, vol. 123, Jan. 10, 1977, p. 457.
b. On January 28, 1987, the Senate agreed to S. Res. 90, authorizing the Senate to designate a Senator
to serve as deputy President pro tempore during the 100th Congress, in addition to Senators who
held such office under the authority of S. Res. 17, 95th Congress. Accordingly, on the same date
the Senate agreed to S. Res. 91, designating Senator George J. Mitchell of Maine deputy
President pro tempore. See “Designation of a Deputy President Pro Tempore of the Senate and
Designating Senator George J. Mitchell As Deputy President Pro Tempore of the Senate,
Congressional Record, vol. 133, Jan. 28, 1987, pp. 2167-2168.
c. On November 29, 1988, Senator Mitchell was elected majority leader for the 101st Congress.
CRS-5
Table 4. Senate Democratic Floor Leaders and
Conference Chairmen
Congress
Candidates
State
Votes
94th a
Michael J. Mansfield
MT
no opposition
95th a,b
Robert C. Byrd
WV
no opposition
96th a
Robert C. Byrd
WV
no opposition
97th a
Robert C. Byrd
WV
no opposition
98th a
Robert C. Byrd
WV
no opposition
99th a
Robert C. Byrd
WV
no opposition
100th a
Robert C. Byrd
WV
no opposition
George J. Mitchell c
ME
27
101st a
Daniel K. Inouye
HI
14
J. Bennett Johnston
LA
14
102nd a
George J. Mitchell
ME
no opposition
103rd a
George J. Mitchell
ME
no opposition
Thomas Daschle
SD
24
104th
Christopher J. Dodd
CT
23
105th
Thomas A. Daschle
SD
no opposition
106th
Thomas A. Daschle
SD
no opposition
107th a
Thomas A. Daschled SD
no
opposition
108th
Thomas A. Daschle
SD
no opposition
a. Indicates Congresses in which the floor leader was also the majority leader. The Democratic leader
is also the chairman of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee.
b. Senator Hubert Humphrey (D-MN) withdrew from the race the morning of the election.
c. Although Senator Mitchell fell one vote short of the necessary majority on the first ballot, the other
candidates immediately withdrew, and he was elected by acclamation.
d. Senator Daschle became majority leader on June 6, 2001, when the Democrats regained control of
the Senate.
CRS-6
Table 5. Senate Republican Floor Leaders
Congress
Candidates
State
Votes
94th
Hugh D. Scott
PA
no opposition
95th
Howard H. Baker
TN
19
Robert P. Griffin
MI
18
96th
Howard H. Baker
TN
no opposition
97th a
Howard H. Baker
TN
no opposition
98th a
Howard H. Baker
TN
no opposition
99th a
1st Ballot
Robert J. Dole
KS
14
Ted Stevens
AK
12
Richard G. Lugar
IN
10
Pete V. Domenici
NM
9
James A. McClure
ID
8
2nd Ballot
Robert J. Dole
KS
17
Ted Stevens
AK
14
Richard G. Lugar
IN
12
Pete V. Domenici
NM
10
3rd Ballot
Robert J. Dole
KS
20
Ted Stevens
AK
20
Richard G. Lugar
IN
13
4th Ballot
Robert J. Dole
KS
28
Ted Stevens
AK
25
100th
Robert J. Dole
KS
no opposition
101st
Robert J. Dole
KS
no opposition
102nd
Robert J. Dole
KS
no opposition
103rd
Robert J. Dole
KS
no opposition
CRS-7
Congress
Candidates
State
Votes
104th a
Initial Election
Robert J. Dole b
KS
no opposition
Replacement Election of June 12, 1996
Trent Lott
MS
44
Thad Cochran
MS
8
105th a
Trent Lott
MS
no opposition
106th a
Trent Lott
MS
no opposition
107th a
Trent Lott c
MS
no opposition
108th a
Trent Lottd
MS
no opposition
108th a
Replacement Election of December 23, 2002
William Friste
TN
no opposition
a. Indicates Congresses in which the floor leader was also the majority leader.
b. Senator Dole resigned from the Senate on June 11, 1996, to campaign for the office of President of
the United States.
c. Senator Lott lost the majority leader position on June 6, 2001, when the Democrats regained control
of the Senate.
d. Senator Lott resigned as majority leader effective January 6, 2003.
e. For the first time in history, the Republican leader was elected in a conference call of Republican
Senators. Senator Frist’s election as Senate majority leader was effective January 6, 2003.
CRS-8
Table 6. Senate Democratic Whips
Congress
Candidates
State
Votes
94th
Robert C. Byrd
WV
no opposition
95th
Alan M. Cranston
CA
no opposition
96th
Alan M. Cranston
CA
no opposition
97th
Alan M. Cranston
CA
no opposition
98th
Alan M. Cranston
CA
no opposition
99th
Alan M. Cranston
CA
no opposition
100th
Alan M. Cranston
CA
no opposition
101st
Alan M. Cranston
CA
30
Wendell H. Ford a
KY
12
102nd
Wendell H. Ford
KY
no opposition
103rd
Wendell H. Ford
KY
no opposition
104th
Wendell H. Ford
KY
no opposition
105th
Wendell H. Ford
KY
no opposition
106th
Harry Reid
NV
no opposition
107th
Harry Reid
NV
no opposition
108th
Harry Reid
NV
no opposition
a. Subsequently, Senator Ford moved to make Senator Cranston’s reelection unanimous.
CRS-9
Table 7. Senate Republican Whips
Congress
Candidates
State
Votes
94th
Robert P. Griffin
MI
no opposition
95th
Ted Stevens
AK
no opposition
96th
Ted Stevens
AK
no opposition
97th
Ted Stevens
AK
no opposition
98th
Ted Stevens
AK
no opposition
99th
lst Ballot
Alan K. Simpson
WY
22
Slade Gorton
WA
16
Robert W. Kasten
WI
15
2nd Ballot
Alan K. Simpson
WY
31
Slade Gorton
WA
22
100th
Alan K. Simpson
WY
no opposition
101st
Alan K. Simpson
WY
no opposition
102nd
Alan K. Simpson
WY
no opposition
103rd
Alan K. Simpson
WY
25
Slade Gorton
WA
14
104th
Initial Election
Trent Lott
MS
27
Alan K. Simpson
WY
26
Replacement Election of June 12, 1996 a
Don Nickles
OK
no opposition
105th
Don Nickles
OK
no opposition
106th
Don Nickles
OK
no opposition
107th
Don Nickles
OK
no opposition
108th
Mitch McConnell
KY
no opposition
a. Senator Lott was elected majority leader on June 12, 1996.
CRS-10
Table 8. Senate Republican Conference Chairmen
Congress
Candidates
State
Votes
94th
Carl T. Curtis
NE
23
Jacob K. Javits
NY
14
95th
Carl T. Curtis
NE
no opposition
96th
Robert W. Packwood
OR
22
James A. McClure
ID
19
97th
James A. McClure
ID
33
H. John Heinz, III
PA
20
98th
James A. McClure
ID
no opposition
99th
John H. Chafee
RI
28
Edward J. (Jake) Garn
UT
25
100th
John H. Chafee
RI
no opposition
101st
John H. Chafee
RI
28
Frank H. Murkowski
AK
17
102nd
Thad Cochran
MS
22
John H. Chafee
RI
21
103rd
Thad Cochran
MS
no opposition
104th
Thad Cochran
MS
no opposition
105th
Connie Mack
FL
no opposition
106th
Connie Mack
FL
no opposition
107th
Rick Santorum
PA
30
Christopher Bond
MO
20
108th
Rick Santorum
PA
no opposition
CRS-11
Table 9. Senate Democratic Conference Secretaries
Congress
Candidates
State
Votes
94th
Frank E. Moss
UT
no opposition
95th
Daniel K. Inouye
HI
no opposition
96th
Daniel K. Inouye
HI
no opposition
97th
Daniel K. Inouye
HI
no opposition
98th
Daniel K. Inouye
HI
no opposition
99th
Daniel K. Inouye
HI
no opposition
100th
Daniel K. Inouye
HI
no opposition
David H. Pryor a
AR
101st
Patrick J. Leahy
VT
102nd
David H. Pryor
AR
no opposition
103rd
David H. Pryor
AR
no opposition
104th
Barbara A. Mikulski
MD
no opposition
105th
Barbara A. Mikulski
MD
no opposition
106th
Barbara A. Mikulski
MD
no opposition
107th
Barbara A. Mikulski
MD
no opposition
108th
Barbara A. Mikulski
MD
no opposition
a. After Senator Pryor received 28 votes, he was declared the winner by acclamation. No other votes
were reported.
CRS-12
Table 10. Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairmen
Congress
Candidates
State
Votes
94th
John G. Tower
TX
no opposition
95th
John G. Tower
TX
no opposition
96th
John G. Tower
TX
no opposition
97th
John G. Tower
TX
no opposition
98th
John G. Tower
TX
no opposition
99th
William L. Armstrong
CO
no opposition
100th
William L. Armstrong
CO
no opposition
101st
William L. Armstrong
CO
no opposition
102nd
1st Ballot
Don Nickles
OK
21
Pete V. Domenici
NM
21
2nd Ballot
Don Nickles
OK
23
Pete V. Domenici
NM
20
103rd
Don Nickles
OK
no opposition
104th
Initial Election
Don Nickles a
OK
no opposition
Replacement Election of June 12, 1996 - 1st Ballot
Larry E. Craig
ID
26
Daniel R. Coats
IN
18
Robert F. Bennett
UT
8
2nd Ballot
Larry E. Craig
ID
30
Daniel R. Coats
IN
22
105th
Larry E. Craig
ID
no opposition
106th
Larry E. Craig
ID
no opposition
107th
Larry E. Craig
ID
26
Pete V. Domenici
NM
24
108th
Jon Kyl
AZ
no opposition
a. Senator Nickles was elected Republican whip on June 12, 1996, to fill the vacancy caused by
Senator Lott’s election as majority leader.
CRS-13
Table 11. Senate Republican Conference Secretaries
Congress
Candidates
State
Votes
94th
Robert T. Stafford
VT
no opposition
95th
Clifford P. Hansen
WY
20
Robert T. Stafford
VT
17
96th
Edward J. (Jake) Garn
UT
21
John H. Chafee
RI
19
97th
Edward J. (Jake) Garn
UT
no opposition
98th
Edward J. (Jake) Garn
UT
no opposition
99th Thad
Cochran
MS
32
Rudy E. Boschwitz
MN
21
100th
Thad Cochran
MS
no opposition
101st
Thad Cochran
MS
no opposition
102nd
Robert W. Kasten
WI
26
Christopher S. Bond
MO
17
Trent Lott
MS
20
103rd
Christopher S. Bond
MO
14
Frank H. Murkowski
AK
5
104th
Connie Mack
FL
no opposition
105th
Paul D. Coverdell
GA
41
Conrad R. Burns
MT
14
106th
Paul D. Coverdell a
GA
no opposition
107th
Kay Bailey Hutchison
TX
no opposition
108th
Kay Bailey Hutchison
TX
no opposition
a. Died on July 18, 2000; position left vacant for the remainder of the 106th Congress.
CRS-14
Table 12. Democratic Senatorial Campaign
Committee Chairmen
Congress
Candidates
State
Votes
94th
J. Bennett Johnston
LA
—
95th
Wendell H. Ford
KY
—
96th
Wendell H. Ford
KY
—
97th
Wendell H. Ford
KY
—
98th
Lloyd M. Bentsen
TX
—
99th
John F. Kerry
MA
—
100th
George J. Mitchell
ME
—
101st
John B. Breaux
LA
—
102nd
Charles S. Robb
VA
—
103rd
Bob Graham
FL
—
104th
J. Robert Kerrey
NE
—
105th
J. Robert Kerrey
NE
—
106th
Robert G. Torricelli
NJ
—
107th
Patty Murray
WA
—
108th Jon
Corzine
NJ
Note: The chairmen of the Senate Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have always been
appointed by the Senate Democratic leader.
CRS-15
Table 13. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairmen
Congress
Candidates
State
Votes
94th
Ted Stevens
AK
no opposition
95th
Robert W. Packwood
OR
no opposition
96th
H. John Heinz III
PA
21
Orrin G. Hatch
UT
20
97th
Robert W. Packwood
OR
no opposition
Richard G. Lugar
IN
29
98th
Robert W. Packwood
OR
25
99th
H. John Heinz III
PA
27
Malcolm Wallop
WY
26
100th
Rudy E. Boschwitz
MN
no opposition
Don Nickles
OK
28
101st
John S. McCain
AZ
17
Phil Gramm
TX
26
102nd
Mitch McConnell
KY
17
Phil Gramm
TX
20
103rd
Mitch McConnell
KY
19
104th
Mitch McConnell
KY
no opposition
105th
Mitch McConnell
KY
no opposition
Mitch McConnell
KY
39
106th
Chuck Hagel
NE
13
107th
William Frist
TN
no opposition
108th
George Allen
VA
no opposition