Related Collection Object
Democratic Caucus Chairmen (1849 to present)
Samuel Randall Carte-de-visite (detail), Collection of the U.S. House of RepresentativesAbout this object
The House Democratic Caucus serves as the organizational forum to elect party leaders at the outset of each new Congress. The caucus meets on a weekly basis to discuss party policy, pending legislative issues, and other matters of mutual concern. Further information on the caucus' current activities is available on the House Democratic Caucus Web site.
There is no clear data on Democratic Caucus Chairmen for the 32nd, 35th, 37th-40th, 42nd, and 47th Congresses.
| Congress and Years | Name | State or Territory |
|---|---|---|
| 31st (1849–1851) | THOMPSON, James | PA |
| 33rd (1853–1855) | OLDS, Edson Baldwin | OH |
| 34th (1855–1857) | JONES, George Washington | TN |
| 36th (1859–1861) | HOUSTON, George Smith | AL |
| 41st (1869–1871) 1 | NIBLACK, William Ellis | IN |
| 41st (1869–1871) | RANDALL, Samuel Jackson | PA |
| 43rd (1873–1875) | NIBLACK, William Ellis | IN |
| 44th (1875–1877) | LAMAR, Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus | MS |
| 45th (1877–1879) | CLYMER, Hiester | PA |
| 46th (1879–1881) | HOUSE, John Ford | TN |
| 48th (1883–1885) | GEDDES, George Washington | OH |
| 49th (1885–1887) | TUCKER, John Randolph | VA |
| 50th (1887–1889) 2 | COX, Samuel Sullivan | NY |
| 51st (1889–1891) | HOLMAN, William Steele | IN |
| 52nd (1891–1893) | HOLMAN, William Steele | IN |
| 53rd (1893–1895) | HOLMAN, William Steele | IN |
| 54th (1895–1897) | CULBERSON, David Browning | TX |
| 55th (1897–1899) | RICHARDSON, James Daniel | TN |
| 56th (1899–1901) | HAY, James | VA |
| 57th (1901–1903) | HAY, James | VA |
| 58th (1903–1905) | HAY, James | VA |
| 59th (1905–1907) | HENRY, Robert Lee | TX |
| 60th (1907–1909) | CLAYTON, Henry De Lamar | AL |
| 61st (1909–1911) 3 | CLAYTON, Henry De Lamar | AL |
| 62nd (1911–1913) 4 | BURLESON, Albert Sidney | TX |
| 63rd (1913–1915) | PALMER, Alexander Mitchell | PA |
| 64th (1915–1917) | SAUNDERS, Edward Watts | VA |
| 65th (1917–1919) | SAUNDERS, Edward Watts | VA |
| 66th (1919–1921) | DEWALT, Arthur Granville | PA |
| 67th (1921–1923) | RAYBURN, Samuel Taliaferro | TX |
| 68th (1923–1925) | RAINEY, Henry Thomas | IL |
| 69th (1925–1927) | CARTER, Charles David | OK |
| 70th (1927–1929) | GREENWOOD, Arthur Herbert | IN |
| 71st (1929–1931) 5 | KINCHELOE, David Hayes | KY |
| 72nd (1931–1933) | ARNOLD, William Wright | IL |
| 73rd (1933–1935) | LEA, Clarence Frederick | CA |
| 74th (1935–1937) | TAYLOR, Edward Thomas | CO |
| 75th (1937–1939) | DOUGHTON, Robert Lee | NC |
| 76th (1939–1941) 6 | MCCORMACK, John William | MA |
| 77th (1941–1943) | DUNCAN, Richard Meloan | MO |
| 78th (1943–1945) | SHEPPARD, Harry Richard | CA |
| 79th (1945–1947) | COOPER, Jere | TN |
| 80th (1947–1949) | FORAND, Aime Joseph | RI |
| 81st (1949–1951) | WALTER, Francis Eugene | PA |
| 82nd (1951–1953) | COOPER, Jere | TN |
| 83rd (1953–1955) | MILLS, Wilbur Daigh | AR |
| 84th (1955–1957) | ROONEY, John James | NY |
| 85th (1957–1959) | PRICE, Charles Melvin | IL |
| 86th (1959–1961) | PRICE, Charles Melvin | IL |
| 87th (1961–1963) | WALTER, Francis Eugene | PA |
| 88th (1963–1965) 7 | WALTER, Francis Eugene | PA |
| 88th (1963–1965) | THOMAS, Albert | TX |
| 89th (1965–1967) | KEOGH, Eugene James | NY |
| 90th (1967–1969) | ROSTENKOWSKI, Daniel David | IL |
| 91st (1969–1971) | ROSTENKOWSKI, Daniel David | IL |
| 92nd (1971–1973) | TEAGUE, Olin Earl | TX |
| 93rd (1973–1975) | TEAGUE, Olin Earl | TX |
| 94th (1975–1977) | BURTON, Phillip | CA |
| 95th (1977–1979) | FOLEY, Thomas Stephen | WA |
| 96th (1979–1981) | FOLEY, Thomas Stephen | WA |
| 97th (1981–1983) | LONG, Gillis William | LA |
| 98th (1983–1985) | LONG, Gillis William | LA |
| 99th (1985–1987) | GEPHARDT, Richard Andrew | MO |
| 100th (1987–1989) | GEPHARDT, Richard Andrew | MO |
| 101st (1989–1991) 8 | GRAY, William Herbert, III | PA |
| 101st (1989–1991) 9 | HOYER, Steny Hamilton | MD |
| 102nd (1991–1993) | HOYER, Steny Hamilton | MD |
| 103rd (1993–1995) | HOYER, Steny Hamilton | MD |
| 104th (1995–1997) | FAZIO, Victor Herbert, Jr. | CA |
| 105th (1997–1999) | FAZIO, Victor Herbert, Jr. | CA |
| 106th (1999–2001) | FROST, Jonas Martin | TX |
| 107th (2001–2003) | FROST, Jonas Martin | TX |
| 108th (2003–2005) | MENENDEZ, Robert | NJ |
| 109th (2005–2007) 10 | MENENDEZ, Robert | NJ |
| 109th (2005–2007) 11 | CLYBURN, James Enos | SC |
| 110th (2007–2009) | EMANUEL, Rahm | IL |
| 111th (2009–2011) | LARSON, John B. | CT |
| 112th (2011–2013) | LARSON, John B. | CT |
Footnotes
1Caucus records show Representative Niblack and Representative Randall as both having served as chairman during the Congress, but no dates of service were specified.
2Former 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.
3Caucus 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 Burleson on April 11, 1911.
4Caucus 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 Burleson on April 11, 1911.
5Resigned from the House, October 5, 1930; there is no record of an election to fill the vacancy as caucus chair.
6Resigned following election as majority floor leader, September 16, 1940; records do not indicate that a successor was chosen during the remainder of the Congress.
7Died in office on May 31, 1963. Caucus chairman post was vacant until January 21, 1964.
8Representative Gray was elected Democratic Whip on June 14, 1989.
9Representative 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.
10On January 16, 2006, Representative Menendez resigned from the House after he was appointed to the Senate.
11Representative Clyburn was selected Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus on December 16, 2005, effective January 18, 2006.