List of United States Senators in the 111th Congress by seniority

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This is a complete list of members of the United States Senate during the 111th United States Congress listed by seniority, from January 3, 2009, to January 3, 2011. It is a historical listing and contains people who have not served the entire two-year Congress, such as Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton.

United States Senate Upper house of the United States Congress

The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, which along with the United States House of Representatives—the lower chamber—comprises the legislature of the United States. The Senate chamber is located in the north wing of the Capitol, in Washington, D.C.

111th United States Congress 2009–2011 legislature of the United States

The One Hundred Eleventh 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 two weeks of the George W. Bush administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of Barack Obama's presidency. It was composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The apportionment of seats in the House was based on the 2000 U.S. Census. In the November 4, 2008 elections, the Democratic Party increased its majorities in both chambers, giving President Obama a Democratic majority in the legislature for the first two years of his presidency. A new delegate seat was created for the Northern Mariana Islands. The 111th Congress had the most experienced members in history: at the start of the 111th Congress, the average member of the House had served 10.3 years, while the average Senator had served 13.4 years.This Congress has been considered one of the most productive Congresses in history in terms of legislation passed since the 89th Congress, during Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society.

Joe Biden 47th Vice President of the United States

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who served as the 47th vice president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate from 1973 to 2009.

Contents

Order of service is based on the commencement of the senator's first term. Following this is former service as a U.S. senator (only giving the senator seniority within his or her new incoming class), service as Vice President of the United States, a U.S. Representative, a cabinet secretary, a state governor. Others are separated by his or her state's population. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Vice President of the United States Second highest executive office in United States

The Vice President of the United States is the second-highest officer in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the President of the United States, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The Vice President is also an officer in the legislative branch, as President of the Senate. In this capacity, the Vice President presides over Senate deliberations, but may not vote except to cast a tie-breaking vote. The Vice President also presides over joint sessions of Congress.

United States House of Representatives lower house of the United States Congress

The United States House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they compose the legislature of the United States.

Senators who were sworn in during the middle of the two-year Congress (up until the last senator who was not sworn in early after winning the November 2010 election) are listed at the end of the list with no number. are listed at the end of the list with no number. However, Roland Burris and Al Franken are listed as numbers 99 and 100. Burris was appointed at the end of the previous Congress, but was blocked from taking his seat until January 12, 2009, and Franken won the United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2008, but was unable to take his seat until July 7, 2009 due to an election contest.

Roland Burris politician from the United States

Roland Wallace Burris is an American politician and attorney who is a former United States Senator from the state of Illinois and a member of the Democratic Party.

Al Franken American comedian and politician

Alan Stuart Franken is an American comedian, politician, media personality, and author who served as a United States Senator from Minnesota from 2009 to 2018. He became well known in the 1970s and 1980s as a staff writer and performer on the television comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL). After decades as a comedic actor and writer, he became a prominent liberal political activist, hosting The Al Franken Show on Air America Radio.

John Kerry was the most senior junior senator from the opening of the 111th Congress until the death of Ted Kennedy in August 2009, whereupon Tom Harkin took on the distinction. Jim Webb was the most junior senior senator until Mark Udall, a freshman, became Colorado's senior senator upon Ken Salazar's resignation in late January 2009 to become Interior Secretary.

John Kerry 68th United States Secretary of State

John Forbes Kerry is an American politician who served as the 68th United States Secretary of State from 2013 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a United States Senator from Massachusetts from 1985 until 2013. He was the Democratic nominee in the 2004 presidential election, losing to Republican incumbent George W. Bush.

Ted Kennedy American politician (1932–2009), served the U.S. Senator from Massachusetts from 1962 until his death

Edward Moore Kennedy, also called Teddy, was an American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts for almost 47 years, from 1962 until his death in 2009. A member of the Democratic Party and of the Kennedy political family, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the third-longest-continuously-serving senator in United States history. Kennedy was the last surviving, longest-living, and youngest son of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Kennedy. He was the youngest brother of President John F. Kennedy and of U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy and was the father of Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy.

Tom Harkin United States Senator from Iowa (1985–2015)

Thomas Richard Harkin is an American politician, attorney and author who served as a United States Senator from Iowa from 1985 to 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 1985.

Terms of service

ClassTerms of service of senators that will expire in years
Class 3Terms of service of senators that will expire in 2011 [6]
Class 1Terms of service of senators that will expire in 2013 [7]
Class 2Terms of service of senators that will expire in 2015 [8]

U.S. Senate seniority list

U.S. Senate seniority
RankSenator (party-state)Seniority dateOther factors
1 Robert Byrd [9] (D-WV)January 3, 1959
2 Ted Kennedy [10] (D-MA)November 7, 1962
3 Daniel Inouye (D-HI)January 3, 1963
4 Joe Biden [11] (D-DE)January 3, 1973
5 Patrick Leahy (D-VT)January 3, 1975
6 Richard Lugar (R-IN)January 3, 1977Indiana 11th in population (1970)
7 Orrin Hatch (R-UT)Utah 36th in population (1970)
8 Max Baucus (D-MT)December 15, 1978
9 Thad Cochran (R-MS)December 27, 1978
10 Carl Levin (D-MI)January 3, 1979
11 Chris Dodd (D-CT)January 3, 1981Former U.S. representative (6 years); Connecticut 24th in population (1970)
12 Chuck Grassley (R-IA)Former U.S. representative (6 years); Iowa 25th in population (1970)
13 Arlen Specter R, D [12] -PA)
14 Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)January 3, 1983
15 John Kerry (D-MA)January 2, 1985
16 Tom Harkin (D-IA)January 3, 1985Former U.S. representative
17 Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
18 Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)January 15, 1985
19 Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)January 3, 1987Former U.S. representative (10 years)
20 Richard Shelby (R-AL)Former U.S. representative (8 years)
21 John McCain (R-AZ)Former U.S. representative (4 years); Arizona 29th in population (1980)
22 Harry Reid (D-NV)Former U.S. representative (4 years); Nevada 43rd in population (1980)
23 Kit Bond (R-MO)Former governor
24 Kent Conrad (D-ND)
25 Herb Kohl (D-WI)January 3, 1989Wisconsin 16th in population (1980)
26 Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) [13] Connecticut 25th in population (1980)
27 Daniel Akaka (D-HI)May 16, 1990
28 Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)November 10, 1992
29 Byron Dorgan (D-ND)December 15, 1992
30 Barbara Boxer (D-CA)January 3, 1993Former U.S. representative (10 years)
31 Judd Gregg (R-NH)Former U.S. representative (8 years)
32 Russ Feingold (D-WI)Wisconsin 16th in population (1990)
33 Patty Murray (D-WA)Washington 18th in population (1990)
34 Bob Bennett (R-UT)Utah 35th in population (1990)
35 Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)June 14, 1993
36 Jim Inhofe (R-OK)November 17, 1994
37 Olympia Snowe (R-ME)January 3, 1995Former U.S. representative (16 years)
38 Jon Kyl (R-AZ)Former U.S. representative (8 years)
39 Ron Wyden (D-OR)February 6, 1996
40 Sam Brownback (R-KS)November 7, 1996
41 Pat Roberts (R-KS)January 3, 1997Former U.S. representative (16 years)
42 Richard Durbin (D-IL)Former U.S. representative (14 years)
43 Tim Johnson (D-SD)Former U.S. representative (10 years)
44 Jack Reed (D-RI)Former U.S. representative (6 years)
45 Mary Landrieu (D-LA)Louisiana 21st in population (1990)
46 Jeff Sessions (R-AL)Alabama 22nd in population (1990)
47 Susan Collins (R-ME)Maine 38th in population (1990)
48 Mike Enzi (R-WY)Wyoming 50th in population (1990)
49 Chuck Schumer (D-NY)January 3, 1999Former U.S. representative (18 years)
50 Jim Bunning (R-KY)Former U.S. representative (12 years)
51 Mike Crapo (R-ID)Former U.S. representative (6 years)
52 Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)Former U.S. representative (4 years)
53 George Voinovich (R-OH)Former governor; Ohio 7th in population (1990)
54 Evan Bayh (D-IN)Former governor; Indiana 15th in population (1990)
55 Bill Nelson (D-FL)January 3, 2001Former U.S. representative (12 years)
56 Tom Carper (D-DE)Former U.S. representative (10 years)
57 Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)Former U.S. representative (4 years); Michigan 8th in population (1990)
58 John Ensign (R-NV)Former U.S. representative (4 years); Nevada 39th in population (1990)
59 Maria Cantwell (D-WA)Former U.S. representative (2 years)
60 Ben Nelson (D-NE)Former governor
61 Hillary Clinton [14] [15] (D-NY)
62 John Cornyn (R-TX)December 2, 2002
63 Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)December 20, 2002
64 Frank Lautenberg [16] (D-NJ)January 3, 2003Previous Senate service
65 Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)Former U.S. representative (8 years); Georgia 10th in population (2000)
66 Lindsey Graham (R-SC)Former U.S. representative (8 years); South Carolina 26th in population (2000)
67 Lamar Alexander (R-TN)Former cabinet member
68 Mark Pryor (D-AR)Arkansas 33rd in population (2000)
69 Richard Burr (R-NC)January 3, 2005Former U.S. representative (10 years)
70 Jim DeMint (R-SC)Former U.S. representative (6 years); South Carolina 26th in population (2000)
71 Tom Coburn (R-OK)Former U.S. representative (6 years); Oklahoma 27th in population (2000)
72 John Thune (R-SD)Former U.S. representative (6 years); South Dakota 46th in population (2000)
73 Johnny Isakson (R-GA)Former U.S. representative (5 years, 10 months)
74 David Vitter (R-LA)Former U.S. representative (5 years, 7 months)
75 Mel Martinez [17] (R-FL)Former cabinet member
76 Ken Salazar [18] (D-CO)
77 Bob Menendez (D-NJ)January 17, 2006
78 Ben Cardin (D-MD)January 3, 2007Former U.S. representative (20 years)
79 Bernie Sanders (I-VT)Former U.S. representative (16 years)
80 Sherrod Brown (D-OH)Former U.S. representative (14 years)
81 Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA)Pennsylvania 6th in population (2000)
82 Jim Webb [19] (D-VA)Virginia 12th in population (2000)
83 Bob Corker (R-TN)Tennessee 16th in population (2000)
84 Claire McCaskill (D-MO)Missouri 17th in population (2000)
85 Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)Minnesota 21st in population (2000)
86 Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)Rhode Island 43rd in population (2000)
87 Jon Tester (D-MT)Montana 44th in population (2000)
88 John Barrasso (R-WY)June 25, 2007
89 Roger Wicker (R-MS)December 31, 2007
90 Mark Udall (D-CO)January 3, 2009Former U.S. representative (10 years); Colorado 24th in population (2000)
91 Tom Udall (D-NM)Former U.S. representative (10 years); New Mexico 36th in population (2000)
92 Mike Johanns (R-NE)Former cabinet member
93 Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)Former governor (6 years)
94 Mark Warner (D-VA)Former governor (4 years)
95 Jim Risch (R-ID)Former governor (7 months)
96 Kay Hagan (D-NC)North Carolina 11th in population (2000)
97 Jeff Merkley (D-OR)Oregon 28th in population (2000)
98 Mark Begich (D-AK)Alaska 48th in population (2000)
99 Roland Burris (D-IL)January 12, 2009
Ted Kaufman (D-DE)January 15, 2009
Michael Bennet (D-CO)January 21, 2009
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)January 26, 2009
100 Al Franken (D-MN)July 7, 2009
George LeMieux (R-FL)September 10, 2009
Paul G. Kirk (D-MA)September 24, 2009
Scott Brown (R-MA)February 4, 2010
Carte Goodwin (D-WV)July 16, 2010
Joe Manchin (D-WV)November 15, 2010Former governor
Chris Coons (D-DE)
Mark Kirk (R-IL)November 29, 2010

See also

Notes

  1. A Chronological List of United States Senators 1789-Present, via www.senate.gov
  2. 1971 U.S Census Report Contains 1970 Census results.
  3. 1981 U.S Census Report Contains 1980 Census results.
  4. 1991 U.S Census Report Contains 1990 Census results.
  5. 2000 Census State Population Rankings
  6. Terms of service of senators that will expire in 2011.
  7. Terms of service of senators that will expire in 2013.
  8. Terms of service of senators that will expire in 2015.
  9. Robert Byrd died on June 28, 2010.
  10. Ted Kennedy died on August 25, 2009.
  11. Joe Biden was elected to both the vice-presidency of the United States and a new Senate term. He stepped down from his Senate seat on January 15, 2009.
  12. Despite Arlen Specter's 2009 party change, he retained his seniority since there is no break in his Senate service.
  13. Despite Joe Lieberman's 2006 party change, he retains his seniority since there is no break in his Senate service.
  14. Hillary Clinton's status as a former First Lady, while having some bearing on ceremonial precedence, has no effect on her Seniority within the United states Senate.
  15. Hillary Clinton resigned her seat on January 21, 2009, to become secretary of state.
  16. Frank Lautenberg served a previous term as U.S. Senator from New Jersey from December 1982 to January 2001, but does not retain seniority from that prior service. Lautenberg has sought restoration of his seniority based on his prior service, but has not received it. Second Time Isn't as Lovely for Lautenberg, New York Times
  17. Mel Martinez resigned on September 9, 2009.
  18. Ken Salazar resigned to become Secretary of the Interior on January 19, 2009
  19. Jim Webb's service as Secretary of the Navy does not affect his seniority because it was not a Cabinet-level position during or after his term.