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United States Senate

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TheUnited States Senate is one of thetwo chambers of theUnited States Congress; the other is theHouse of Representatives.

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https://ballotpedia.org/List_of_United_States_Senators_from_STATE

119th Congress

Partisan breakdown

The following chart shows the partisan balance in the Senate.

Partisan composition, U.S. Senate
119th Congress
PartyMembers
Democratic45
Republican53
Independent2[1]
Vacancies0
Total100


Leadership

See also:119th United States Congress

Constitutionally mandated officers

  • President of the Senate: The vice president of the United States is also the president of the Senate. While they cannot normally vote on Senate matters, they preside over the Senate and act as a tie-breaker. They also receive and announce the tally of the electoral college vote for president and vice president before the Senate.[2]
  • President Pro Tempore: Fills in for the president of the Senate when they are absent. They are also the third in the line of succession for the presidency. In recent years the role has largely been given to popular senators from the majority party.[3]

Political leaders

  • Political leaders include theMajority Leader and theMinority Leader, as well as theMajority Whip and theMinority Whip.[4]

Elected Senate officers

  • The Chaplain: The Senate chaplain provides spiritual services and counseling to Senate members, family, and staff.[5]
  • Party Secretaries: Each party elects a party secretary to aid in communication of Senate business.[6]
  • The Secretary of the Senate: The secretary of the Senate performs a wide range of administrative duties, from record keeping, to procurement, and information technology.[7]
  • The Sergeant at Arms: The sergeant at arms is the chief law enforcement officer of the Senate. They hold the jurisdiction to take senators to the Senate Chamber to form a quorum, enforce Senate rules, and arrest thepresident of the United States if so ordered by the Senate. The sergeant at arms is in charge of maintaining security for the Senate Chamber, the Senate wing of the capital, and other Senate buildings. Finally, they keep the gavel used to start daily Senate business.[8]

Special elections

See also:Special elections to the 119th United States Congress (2025-2026)

Special elections will be held during the119th Congress to replace members of Congress who leave office for any reason.

Senators

Portal:Legislative Branch

Members of the Senate are calledsenators. Each of the 50 states is given two Senate seats. Washington D.C. and territories, such as Puerto Rico and Guam, do not receive any delegates to the Senate.

Each senator serves for a six-year term. There are noterm limits for senators.[9]

Qualifications

According to theU.S. Constitution, senators must meet the following requirements:[10]

  • At least 30 years old
  • A U.S. citizen for at least nine years
  • A resident of the state he or she represents

Additionally, all 50 states maintain requirements related to running for election. These filing requirements vary and can include:

  • A filing fee
  • A petition with a minimum number of valid signatures


Section. 3
Clause 1: The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
Clause 2: Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.
Clause 3: No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
Clause 4: The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
Clause 5: The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.
Clause 6: The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When thePresident of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
Clause 7: Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.[11]
The U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 3

Committees

In 2025, there were 16 regular standing committees and four special committees in the U.S. Senate. There were also four joint committees with the U.S. House of Representatives. The committees are permanent panels governed by chamber rules, with responsibility to investigate, draft, and consider bills and issues.[12] Over time, the Senate may update the names and jurisdictions of standing committees to address evolving national issues.[12] Committee jurisdiction is prescribed by the Senate's standing rules, with specific topics dealt out to subcommittees.[13] The majority party of the chamber chairs and receives the most seats on committees, but senators are limited in the number of committees they may take part in.[13]

U.S. Senate


Joint committees


Elections

See also:Classes of United States Senators

Every two years, 33 or 34 seats in the U.S. Senate are up for election. Seats in the U.S. Senate for the purposes of determining the year of an election are defined as Class I, Class II, and Class III. Elections for these seats take place in this rotation:

  • 2024 and 2030: Class I
  • 2026 and 2032: Class II
  • 2022 and 2028: Class III

2024

See also:United States Senate elections, 2024
U.S. Senate Partisan Breakdown
PartyAs of November 5, 2024After the 2024 Election
    Democratic Party
47[14]
45[15]
    Republican Party
49
53
    Independent
4[14]
2[15]
Total
100
100

Thirty-three of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate were up for regular election on Nov. 5, 2024. Of the 33 seats up for election, Democrats held 19, Republicans held 10, and independents held four.Special elections were also held to fill vacancies that occurred in the118th Congress.

Heading into the elections, Democrats and independents who caucused with them had a51-49 majority. Democrats won one independent-held seat, and Republicans won three Democratic-held seats and one independent-held seat. As a result, Republicans gained a53-45 majority with two independents in the Senate. Both independents caucused with the Democratic Party.

Three incumbent senators—all Democrats—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 5, 2024.


General election results

Analysis articles leading up to the 2024 general elections

2022

See also:United States Senate elections, 2022
U.S. Senate Partisan Breakdown
PartyAs of November 8, 2022After the 2022 Election
    Democratic Party48[14]48
    Republican Party5049
    Independent2[14]3
    Vacancies00
Total100100

Thirty-four of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate were up for regular election on Nov. 8, 2022. Of the 34 seats up for election, Democrats held 14 and Republicans held 20.Special elections were also held to fill vacancies that occurred in the117th Congress.

Heading into the elections, Democrats and independents who caucused with them had a50-50 majority. The Democratic majority was due to the results of the 2020 presidential election, which empowered Vice PresidentKamala Harris (D) to cast a tie-breaking vote. Democrats won one Republican-held seat. As a result, Democrats retained a48-49 majority' with three independents in the Senate.

No incumbent senators lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 8, 2022.

2020

See also:United States Senate elections, 2020
U.S. Senate Partisan Breakdown
PartyAs of January 3, 2019After the 2020 Election
    Democratic Party4548[14]
    Republican Party5350
    Independent22[14]
    Vacancies00
Total100100

Thirty-three of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate were up for regular election on Nov. 3, 2020. Of the 33 seats up for election, Democrats held 12 and Republicans held 21. Aspecial election was also held to fill vacancies that occurred in the116th Congress.

Heading into the elections, Republicans had a53-45 majority with two independents who caucused with Democrats. Democrats won four Republican-held seats, and Republicans won one Democratic-held seat. As a result, Democrats and independents who caucused with them had a50-50 majority. The Democratic majority was due to the results of the 2020 presidential election, which empowered Vice PresidentKamala Harris (D) to cast a tie-breaking vote.

Five incumbent senators—one Democrat and four Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 3, 2020.

2018

See also:United States Senate elections, 2018
U.S. Senate Partisan Breakdown
PartyAs of November 5, 2018After the 2018 Election
    Democratic Party4745
    Republican Party5153
    Independent22
    Vacancies00
Total100100

Thirty-three of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate were up for regular election on Nov. 6, 2018. Of the 33 seats up for election, Democrats held 26, Republicans held nine, and independents held two.

Heading into the elections, Republicans had a51-47 majority with two independents who caucused with Democrats. Democrats won two Republican-held seats, and Republicans won four Democratic-held seats. As a result, Republicans retained a53-45 majority.

Five incumbent senators—four Democrats and one Republican—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 6, 2018.

2016

See also:United States Senate elections, 2016
U.S. Senate Partisan Breakdown
PartyAs of November 2016After the 2016 Election
    Democratic Party4446
    Republican Party5452
    Independent22
Total100100

Thirty-four of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate were up for regular election on Nov. 8, 2016. Of the 34 seats up for election, Democrats held 10 and Republicans held 24.

Heading into the elections, Republicans had a54-44 majority with two independents who caucused with Democrats. Democrats won two Republican-held seats. As a result, Republicans retained a52-46 majority with two independents in the Senate. Both independents caucused with the Democratic Party.

Two incumbent senators—both Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 8, 2016.

2014

See also:United States Senate elections, 2014
U.S. Senate Partisan Breakdown
PartyAs of 2014 ElectionAfter the 2014 Election
    Democratic Party5344
    Republican Party4554
    Independent22
Total100100

Thirty-three of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate were up for regular election on Nov. 4, 2014. Of the 33 seats up for election, Democrats held 20 and Republicans held 13.Special elections were also held to fill vacancies that occurred in the113th Congress.

Heading into the elections, Democrats had a53-45 majority with two independents who caucused with Democrats. Republicans won seven Democratic-held seats. As a result, Republicans gained a54-44 majority with two independents in the Senate. Both independents caucused with the Democratic Party.

Five incumbent senators—all Democrats—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 4, 2014.

2012

See also:U.S. Senate elections, 2012
U.S. Senate Partisan Breakdown
PartyAs of November 2012After the 2012 Election
    Democratic Party5153
    Republican Party4745
    Independent22
Total100100

Thirty-three of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate were up for regular election on Nov. 6, 2012. Of the 33 seats up for election, Democrats held 21, Republicans held 10, and independents held two.

Heading into the elections, Democrats had a51-47 majority with two independents who caucused with Democrats. Democrats won two Republican-held seats, and an independent won a Republican-held seat. As a result, Democrats maintained a53-45 majority with two independents in the Senate. Both independents caucused with the Democratic Party.

Two incumbent senators—both Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 6, 2012.

Analysis

Salary

As of 2025, most senators are paid $174,000 per year. Majority and minority leaders, as well as the president pro tempore, receive $193,400.[16]

Some historical facts about the salary of U.S. Senate members:

  • In 1789, members of the Senate received $6 per diem[16]
  • In 1874, members of the Senate earned $5,000 per year[16]
  • In 1990, members of the Senate earned $98,400 per year[16]
  • From 2000-2006, the salary of a member of the U.S. Senate increased every year, going from $141,300-$165,200 in that time span.[16]

Voting with the party

OpenCongress is a website that tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of their party caucus. In May 2014, there were 51 Democrats and 45 Republicans tracked.

Democrats:[17]

  • The average (mean) Democrat voted with the party approximately 95.0 percent of the team.
  • The average (median) Democrat voted with the party approximately 95.55 percent of the time.
  • The top Democrat voted with the party approximately 98.8 percent of the time.
  • The bottom Democrat voted with the party approximately 72.8 percent of the time.

Republicans:[18]

  • The average (both mean & median) Republican voted with the party approximately 86.8 percent of the team.
  • The top Republican voted with the party approximately 94.9 percent of the time.
  • The bottom Republican voted with the party approximately 62.7 percent of the time.


116th Congress: Demographics

In the 116th Congress, the House and Senate both set records for female representation. The House had 102 women, comprising 23 percent of the chamber’s voting members. The Senate had 25 women, the most female representation in Senate history.[19][20]

The 116th Congress also had the largest number of Blacks (55), Hispanics/Latin Americans (44), Asians/Pacific Islanders (15), and Native Americans (4), making up 22 percent of Congress. The 116th Congress also had 10 members who openly identified as LGBTQ.[21][20][22]

The 116th Congress was slightly more religiously diverse than the115th Congress. Four hundred and seventy-one members identified as Christian, 34 as Jewish, three as Muslim, three as Hindu, two as Buddhist, two as Unitarian Universalist, one as unaffiliated, and 18 declined to specify a religious affiliation when polled by Pew Research Center.[23]

Current members

Partisan balance

Partisan composition, U.S. Senate
119th Congress
PartyMembers
Democratic45
Republican53
Independent2[24]
Vacancies0
Total100

List of current U.S. Senate members


OfficeNameParty
U.S. Senate AlabamaKatie BrittRepublican
U.S. Senate AlabamaTommy TubervilleRepublican
U.S. Senate AlaskaLisa MurkowskiRepublican
U.S. Senate AlaskaDaniel S. SullivanRepublican
U.S. Senate ArizonaRuben GallegoDemocratic
U.S. Senate ArizonaMark KellyDemocratic
U.S. Senate ArkansasJohn BoozmanRepublican
U.S. Senate ArkansasTom CottonRepublican
U.S. Senate CaliforniaAlex PadillaDemocratic
U.S. Senate CaliforniaAdam SchiffDemocratic
U.S. Senate ColoradoMichael BennetDemocratic
U.S. Senate ColoradoJohn HickenlooperDemocratic
U.S. Senate ConnecticutRichard BlumenthalDemocratic
U.S. Senate ConnecticutChristopher S. MurphyDemocratic
U.S. Senate DelawareLisa Blunt RochesterDemocratic
U.S. Senate DelawareChris CoonsDemocratic
U.S. Senate FloridaAshley B. MoodyRepublican
U.S. Senate FloridaRick ScottRepublican
U.S. Senate GeorgiaJon OssoffDemocratic
U.S. Senate GeorgiaRaphael WarnockDemocratic
U.S. Senate HawaiiMazie K. HironoDemocratic
U.S. Senate HawaiiBrian E. SchatzDemocratic
U.S. Senate IdahoMike CrapoRepublican
U.S. Senate IdahoJim RischRepublican
U.S. Senate IllinoisTammy DuckworthDemocratic
U.S. Senate IllinoisDick DurbinDemocratic
U.S. Senate IndianaJim BanksRepublican
U.S. Senate IndianaTodd C. YoungRepublican
U.S. Senate IowaJoni ErnstRepublican
U.S. Senate IowaChuck GrassleyRepublican
U.S. Senate KansasRoger MarshallRepublican
U.S. Senate KansasJerry MoranRepublican
U.S. Senate KentuckyMitch McConnellRepublican
U.S. Senate KentuckyRand PaulRepublican
U.S. Senate LouisianaBill CassidyRepublican
U.S. Senate LouisianaJohn Neely KennedyRepublican
U.S. Senate MaineSusan CollinsRepublican
U.S. Senate MaineAngus KingIndependent
U.S. Senate MarylandAngela AlsobrooksDemocratic
U.S. Senate MarylandChris Van HollenDemocratic
U.S. Senate MassachusettsEdward J. MarkeyDemocratic
U.S. Senate MassachusettsElizabeth WarrenDemocratic
U.S. Senate MichiganGary PetersDemocratic
U.S. Senate MichiganElissa SlotkinDemocratic
U.S. Senate MinnesotaAmy KlobucharDemocratic
U.S. Senate MinnesotaTina SmithDemocratic
U.S. Senate MississippiCindy Hyde-SmithRepublican
U.S. Senate MississippiRoger WickerRepublican
U.S. Senate MissouriJosh HawleyRepublican
U.S. Senate MissouriEric SchmittRepublican
U.S. Senate MontanaSteve DainesRepublican
U.S. Senate MontanaTim SheehyRepublican
U.S. Senate NebraskaDeb FischerRepublican
U.S. Senate NebraskaPete RickettsRepublican
U.S. Senate NevadaCatherine Cortez MastoDemocratic
U.S. Senate NevadaJacky RosenDemocratic
U.S. Senate New HampshireMaggie HassanDemocratic
U.S. Senate New HampshireJeanne ShaheenDemocratic
U.S. Senate New JerseyCory BookerDemocratic
U.S. Senate New JerseyAndrew KimDemocratic
U.S. Senate New MexicoMartin HeinrichDemocratic
U.S. Senate New MexicoBen Ray LujánDemocratic
U.S. Senate New YorkKirsten GillibrandDemocratic
U.S. Senate New YorkChuck SchumerDemocratic
U.S. Senate North CarolinaTed BuddRepublican
U.S. Senate North CarolinaThom TillisRepublican
U.S. Senate North DakotaKevin CramerRepublican
U.S. Senate North DakotaJohn HoevenRepublican
U.S. Senate OhioJon HustedRepublican
U.S. Senate OhioBernie MorenoRepublican
U.S. Senate OklahomaJames LankfordRepublican
U.S. Senate OklahomaMarkwayne MullinRepublican
U.S. Senate OregonJeff MerkleyDemocratic
U.S. Senate OregonRon WydenDemocratic
U.S. Senate PennsylvaniaJohn FettermanDemocratic
U.S. Senate PennsylvaniaDavid McCormickRepublican
U.S. Senate Rhode IslandJack ReedDemocratic
U.S. Senate Rhode IslandSheldon WhitehouseDemocratic
U.S. Senate South CarolinaLindsey GrahamRepublican
U.S. Senate South CarolinaTim ScottRepublican
U.S. Senate South DakotaMike RoundsRepublican
U.S. Senate South DakotaJohn ThuneRepublican
U.S. Senate TennesseeMarsha BlackburnRepublican
U.S. Senate TennesseeBill HagertyRepublican
U.S. Senate TexasJohn CornynRepublican
U.S. Senate TexasTed CruzRepublican
U.S. Senate UtahJohn CurtisRepublican
U.S. Senate UtahMike LeeRepublican
U.S. Senate VermontBernie SandersIndependent
U.S. Senate VermontPeter WelchDemocratic
U.S. Senate VirginiaTim KaineDemocratic
U.S. Senate VirginiaMark WarnerDemocratic
U.S. Senate WashingtonMaria CantwellDemocratic
U.S. Senate WashingtonPatty MurrayDemocratic
U.S. Senate West VirginiaShelley Moore CapitoRepublican
U.S. Senate West VirginiaJim JusticeRepublican
U.S. Senate WisconsinTammy BaldwinDemocratic
U.S. Senate WisconsinRonald Harold JohnsonRepublican
U.S. Senate WyomingJohn BarrassoRepublican
U.S. Senate WyomingCynthia LummisRepublican


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Two independents caucus with the Democratic Party.
  2. The U.S. Senate, "Vice President of the United States (President of the Senate)," April 12, 2012
  3. The U.S. Senate, "President Pro Tempore," July 9, 2012
  4. The U.S. Senate, "Senate Organization Chart for the 112th Congress," April 12, 2012
  5. The U.S. Senate, "Senate Chaplain," April 12, 2012
  6. The U.S. Senate, "Party Secretaries," April 12, 2012
  7. The U.S. Senate, "Secretary of the Senate," April 12, 2012
  8. The U.S. Senate, "Sergeant At Arms," April 12, 2012
  9. The U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 3
  10. U.S. Senate Official Website, "Learn," April 12, 2012
  11. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  12. 12.012.1The U.S. Senate, "About the Senate Committee System," accessed April 15, 2025
  13. 13.013.1United States Senate, "About the Committee System: Committees and Senate Rules," accessed April 15, 2025
  14. 14.014.114.214.314.414.5Three independents caucused with the Democratic Party. Another independent, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, counted toward the Democratic majority for committee purposes.Cite error: Invalid<ref> tag; name "ind" defined multiple times with different contentCite error: Invalid<ref> tag; name "ind" defined multiple times with different content
  15. 15.015.1Two independents caucus with the Democratic Party.
  16. 16.016.116.216.316.4U.S. Senate, "Salaries," accessed May 29, 2012
  17. OpenCongress, "Voting With Party," archived March 5, 2016
  18. OpenCongress, "Voting With Party," archived February 5, 2016
  19. Pew Research, "A record number of women will be serving in the new Congress," December 18, 2018
  20. 20.020.1Business Insider, "This one graphic shows how much more diverse the House of Representatives will become in January," December 16, 2018
  21. Politico, "Congress's incoming class is younger, bluer, and more diverse than ever," November 28, 2018
  22. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections presents our comprehensive guide to the 116th Congress members and districts," November 29, 2018
  23. Pew Research Center, "Faith on the Hill," January 3, 2019
  24. Two independents caucus with the Democratic Party.
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