Warren joins Senate leadership team: Durbin retains No. 2 spot

UPDATED…WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats are adding rising star Sen. Elizabeth Warren D-Mass. to their leadership team, and retaining Sen. Dick Durbin D-Ill. as the number two Democratic leader as Democrats met Thursday for the first time since Senate Republicans seized control of the chamber in the mid-term elections.

The top Senate Democratic leadership team remains intact: Sen. Harry Reid D-Nv. will become the Minority Leader in the next Congress with Durbin, Sen. Chuck Schumer D-NY and Sen. Patty Murray D-Wash. the core leadership group.

Warren — who comes from the populist, progressive and liberal wing of the Democratic party — known for taking on Wall Street, will have a seat at the leadership table. Warren’s title is Strategic Policy Advisor To The Democratic Policy And Communications Center. She will be part of the Senate Democrats regular Tuesday morning strategy sessions.

BELOW, FROM DURBIN…“I’m honored to have the trust of my colleagues in the Democratic Caucus,” said Durbin. “While our caucus will be the minority in the Senate next year, our work on behalf of all Americans will never falter. We can, and we must, come together to meet America’s biggest challenges and I will continue to work with President Obama and the leaders of both parties to do that.”

Durbin will continue his role as the lead Senate Democrat in the day-to-day action on the Senate floor. The Assistant Democratic Leader—also known as the Democratic Whip—is responsible for counting votes and monitoring legislation for the caucus on the Senate floor.

Only four other Illinoisans have served as leaders for their parties in the Senate. Shelby Moore Cullom served as Republican Conference Chairman from 1911-1913; J. Hamilton Lewis became the first Democratic Whip of the Senate in 1913, and was again elected Whip in 1931; Scott Wike Lucas served as Democratic Whip from 1947 to 1949 and Majority Leader from 1949 to 1951; and Everett McKinley Dirksen was elected Republican Whip in 1957 and Minority Leader in 1959, a position he held for ten years.

Earlier this month, Durbin was reelected for a fourth term in the United States Senate.

BELOW, FROM THE SENATE DEMOCRATS…

Senators Reid, Durbin, Schumer, Murray and Stabenow to Continue in Current Roles

Senator Klobuchar Will Become Chair Of Democratic Steering And Outreach Committee, & Senator Elizabeth Warren Will Become Strategic Policy Advisor To The Democratic Policy And Communications Center

Senate Democratic Leadership: We Stand Ready to Work With Republicans on Behalf of America’s Middle Class

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senate Democrats introduced the caucus’s leadership team for the 114th Congress. At the announcement, Senate Democrats said they stand ready to work with Republicans and pass legislation to help the middle class. Senate Democratic leadership positions will be as follows:

Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate Democratic Leader

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Assistant Democratic Leader

Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Conference Vice Chair and DPCC Chair

Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Democratic Conference Secretary

Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), DPCC Vice Chair

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee Chair

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Strategic Policy Advisor to the DPCC

“Our leadership team stands ready to work with the majority in good faith,” said Senator Reid. “I have been able to strike many good compromises in the past with my Republican colleagues and I’m ready to do it again. But make no mistake: Democrats will fight for the priorities of America’s middle class. We will continue to make progress in growing the economy, creating jobs, and providing health and economic security for Americans.”

“I’m honored to have the trust of my colleagues in the Democratic Caucus,” said Senator Durbin. “While our caucus will be the minority in the Senate next year, our work on behalf of all Americans will never falter. We can, and we must, come together to meet America’s biggest challenges and I will continue to work with President Obama and the leaders of both parties to do that.”

“This leadership team has the combination of experienced leadership and new energy that will be the perfect balance to lead Democrats in the next Congress,” said Senator Schumer. “We stand ready to work with Republicans to get things done for the middle class. If Republican leadership has the courage to buck the Tea Party and reason with Democrats, we will be able to achieve a great deal for the American people.”

“We were all sent here to work and fight for the families and communities we represent no matter which party controls Congress, and that is exactly what we intend to do,” said Senator Murray. “While we will certainly never set aside our values or our principles, if Republican leaders are truly interested in pushing aside the Tea Party and working with us, then I am confident that we can deliver results for families in Washington state and across the country.”

“There is no question that Democrats will continue to work in a bipartisan way to make sure middle-class families have a fair shot to get ahead in life,” said Senator Stabenow. “At the end of the day it’s not about politics, it’s about making the best decisions that will help American families, and that’s what I’ll keep doing on behalf of Michigan and our country.”

“If we’re going to continue moving our economy and country forward, we need to enlist the creativity and expertise of leaders from all across the country,” said Senator Klobuchar. “I’m looking forward to bringing together lawmakers, businesses, and community leaders to shape policies that will help drive economic growth and strengthen our country.”

“I’m grateful to Leader Reid and Senator Schumer for offering me a seat at the table in leadership,” said Senator Warren. “While the stock market rises and CEOs rake in millions more each year, working families keep getting left behind as they struggle to pay the bills and build economic security. We need to make government work for all of our families, and I’m glad to join my colleagues in that fight.”

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