WASHINGTON – Sen. Charles Schumer, a senior member of the Banking Committee, has been reelected as vice chair of the Democratic conference and chair of the Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Center.
In those roles, the New York lawmaker will continue to serve as a key political strategist for the party in the 113th Congress. Senate Democrats and Republicans separately conducted leadership votes on Wednesday morning.
Schumer has been a vocal supporter of the Dodd-Frank reform law on the banking panel, as well as an advocate for regulation of the credit card industry.
Democrats did not name a replacement for Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, who is stepping down as chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, though she will remain the caucus secretary.
Sen. Michael Bennet, a junior member of the banking panel, is said to be considering an offer from Majority Leader Harry Reid for the DSCC post, according to press reports.
Otherwise, leadership on both sides of the aisle in the Senate remains largely unchanged. Sen. Harry Reid will continue to serve as majority leader and Sen. Richard Durbin as majority whip, while Sen. Mitch McConnell will stay on as minority leader. Sen. John Cornyn will serve as Republicans’ whip, after serving as head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the past two election cycles.
