The House Democratic Caucus is a

congressional caucus A congressional caucus is a group of members of the United States Congress that meet to pursue common legislative objectives. Formally, caucuses are formed as congressional member organizations (CMOs) through the United States House of Represent ...

composed of all Democratic Representatives in the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

and is responsible for nominating and electing the Democratic Party leadership in the chamber. In its roles as a party conference, the

caucus A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a specific political party or movement. The exact definition varies between different countries and political cultures. The term originated in the United States, where it can refer to a meeting ...

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. The caucus has a Caucus Chairman and Caucus Vice-Chair (formerly called the Secretary). For the

117th Congress The 117th United States Congress is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It convened in Washington, D.C., on ...

, Hakeem Jeffries was re-elected as the Caucus Chairman, and Pete Aguilar was chosen as the Caucus Vice Chair to succeed Katherine Clark, who became the Assistant Speaker.

Current hierarchy

Effective with the start of the

, the chain of command conference leadership is as follows (from highest to lowest): *

Nancy Pelosi Nancy Patricia Pelosi (; ; born March 26, 1940) is an American politician who has served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives since 2019 and previously from 2007 to 2011. She has represented in the United States House of ...

( CA) as

Speaker of the House The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hunger ...

(Caucus Leader) *

Steny Hoyer Steny Hamilton Hoyer (born June 14, 1939) is an American politician and attorney serving as the U.S. representative for since 1981 and as House Majority Leader since 2019. A Democrat, Hoyer was first elected in a special election on May 19, 19 ...

( MD) as

House Majority Leader Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives, also known as floor leaders, are congresspeople who coordinate legislative initiatives and serve as the chief spokespersons for their parties on the House floor. These leaders are e ...

Jim Clyburn James Enos Clyburn (born July 21, 1940) is an American politician and retired educator serving as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina. He has served as House Majority Whip since 2019. He is a two-time m ...

( SC) as House Majority Whip * Katherine Clark ( MA) as Assistant Speaker of the House (Assistant Leader) * Hakeem Jeffries ( NY) as Caucus Chairman * Pete Aguilar ( CA) as Caucus Vice Chair

Leadership history

The House Democratic Caucus, through its institutional antecedent, the

Democratic-Republican The Democratic-Republican Party, known at the time as the Republican Party and also referred to as the Jeffersonian Republican Party among other names, was an American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in the early ...

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 2003, the House Democratic Leader has been Rep.

of California (the first female

in U.S. history). She has served twice as Speaker, from 2007 - 2011 and from 2019 to present. At the Organizational Meeting on November 18, 2008, of the Democratic Caucus for the

111th Congress The 111th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government from January 3, 2009, until January 3, 2011. It began during the last weeks of the George W. Bush administration, with th ...

, Representative

John B. Larson John Barry Larson (born July 22, 1948) is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative for since 1999. The district is based in the state capital, Hartford. A member of the Democratic Party, Larson chaired the Hou ...

(D-

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the ...

) was elected Caucus Chairman by acclamation. The election was presided over by the outgoing chairman of the Democratic Caucus for the

110th Congress The 110th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, between January 3, 2007, and January 3, 2009, during the last two years of the Presidency of George W. Bush. It was composed of ...

, former Representative

Rahm Emanuel Rahm Israel Emanuel (; born November 29, 1959) is an American politician and diplomat who is the current United States Ambassador to Japan. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served two terms as the 55th Mayor of Chicago from 2011 ...

(D-

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rock ...

). 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 Xavier Becerra ( ; ; born January 26, 1958) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 25th United States secretary of health and human services since March 2021. Becerra previously served as the attorney general of California from Ja ...

(D-

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

), who defeated Representative

Marcy Kaptur Marcia Carolyn Kaptur (; born June 17, 1946) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 1983. A member of the Democratic Party, Kaptur is the longest-serving woman in either chamber of Congress, and the second-longest ...

Ohio Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...

by a vote count of 175 to 67. Rep. Becerra likewise assumed his vice-chairmanship on January 3.

Leaders of the House Democratic Caucus

Notes

List of chairmen

Chairs are currently limited to two consecutive terms.

List of vice-chairs

The vice-chair of the Democratic Caucus ranks just below the

Chair A chair is a type of seat, typically designed for one person and consisting of one or more legs, a flat or slightly angled seat and a back-rest. They may be made of wood, metal, or synthetic materials, and may be padded or upholstered in vari ...

of the House Democratic Caucus. In addition to other duties, the vice-chair has a seat on the Steering and Policy Committee. *

Mary Rose Oakar Mary Rose Oakar (born March 5, 1940) is an American Democratic politician and former member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio, serving from 1977 to 1993. She was the first Democratic woman elected to the United States Congr ...

(1987–1989) *

(1989) * Vic Fazio (1989–1995) *

Barbara B. Kennelly Barbara Bailey Kennelly (born Barbara Ann Bailey; born July 10, 1936) is an American politician. She is the former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut. Family and Education Kennelly was born Barbara ...

(1995–1999) *

Bob Menendez Robert Menendez (; born January 1, 1954) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States senator from New Jersey, a seat he has held since 2006. Gale (publisher), Gale Biography I ...

(1999–2003) *

(2003–2006) *

(2006–2009) *

(2009–2012) *

Joe Crowley Joseph Crowley (born March 16, 1962) is an American politician and consultant who served as U.S. Representative from New York's 14th congressional district from 1999 to 2019. He was defeated by Democratic primary challenger Alexandria Ocasio-C ...

(2012–2017) * Linda Sánchez (2017–2019) * Katherine Clark (2019–2021) * Pete Aguilar (2021–present)

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.''Congressional Women'': On the Secretary position
/ref> * Chase G. Woodhouse (1949–1951) *

Edna F. Kelly Edna Kelly (née Flannery; August 20, 1906 – December 14, 1997) was an American politician who served ten terms as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York from 1949 to 1969. Biography Kelly was born ...

(1953–1957, 1964) * Leonor K. Sullivan (1959–1975, except 1964) * Patsy Mink (1975–1977) *

Shirley Chisholm Shirley Anita Chisholm ( ; ; November 30, 1924 – January 1, 2005) was an American politician who, in 1968, became the first black woman to be elected to the United States Congress. Chisholm represented New York's 12th congressional distr ...

(1977–1981) * Geraldine Ferraro (1981–1985) *

(1985–1987)

References

External links

Official site of the Democratic Caucus
{{DEFAULTSORT:Democratic Caucus Of The United States House Of Representatives Caucuses of the United States Congress Caucus of the United States House of Representatives Leaders of the United States House of Representatives