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Home , Ben Cardin, Dianne Feinstein, Dick Durbin, James Lankford, Jeanne Shaheen, Jim Inhofe

Potential Senate Committee Leaders in the 115th Congress

October Edition 2

Potential Senate Committee Leaders in the 115th Congress

• This deck outlines potential changes to Senate chairmen and ranking members in the 115th Congress that meets next January

• Some changes will occur as a result of retirements and election outcomes – Ten chairmen and five ranking members are seeking re-election • Three chairmen are in races considered the most competitive – One chairman and two ranking members are retiring

• Term limits will also force changes on some committees – Republican senators can serve three Congresses, or six years, as chairman and another six years as ranking member – Democrats don’t impose term limits

• In the following slides, you’ll see: – A breakdown of major committees that could have new leaders after Nov. 8 – The candidates for chairman and ranking member under a Republican or Democratic majority – How movement on one committee could mean changes for others 3

Democrats need a net of five seats to win control of the senate • If there’s a 50/50 split, as there was in early 2001, control would depend on who wins the , because the vice president would break the tie 4 Committee leadership changes in store; senators up in 2016 or retiring shown in bold

Committee Chairman Ranking Democrat Aging () Claire McCaskill (Mo.) Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry (Kan.) (Mich.) Appropriations (Miss.) (Md.) – retiring Armed Services John McCain (Ariz.) Jack Reed (R.I.) Shelby (Ala.) Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs () term-limited as chairman Budget (Wyo.) (I-Vt.) Commerce, Science & Transportation (S.D.) (Fla.) Energy & Natural Resources () (Wash.) (Okla.) Environment & Public Works (Calif.) – retiring term-limited as chairman Ethics (Ga.) Barbara Boxer (Calif.) – retiring Finance () (Ore.) Foreign Relations (Tenn.) (Md.) Health, , Labor & (Tenn.) (Wash.) Homeland Security & Govt. Affairs Ron Johnson (Wis.) (Del.) Indian Affairs (Wyo.) (Mont.) Intelligence (N.C.) (Calif.) Judiciary Charles Grassley (Iowa) Pat Leahy (Vt.) Rules & Administration (Mo.) Charles Schumer (N.Y.) Small Business & Entrepreneurship (La.) – retiring (N.H.) Veterans' Affairs Johnny Isakson (Ga.) (Conn.) 5 Appropriations: Mikulski retirement leaves opening for Murray, Durbin

• If the Republicans win: Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) would remain chairman. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) expressed interest in succeeding Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) as the panel’s top Democrat, though she could seek a leadership role. (D-Ill.) or another Democrat could also take the position. Cochran Murray • If the Democrats win: Murray or Durbin would become chairman. Cochran is term-limited as ranking member and would probably be replaced by (R-Ala.)

• Other notes: Murray’s move to Appropriations from the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee could have a domino effect on several other committees. Shelby Durbin Chairman Ranking member

Current Thad Cochran (Miss.) Barbara Mikulski (Md.) Republican majority Cochran Patty Murray (Wash.) Democratic majority Murray Richard Shelby (Ala.) Photo credits: Senate portraits Source: Lying in Wait: Shelby Ready for Lead on Senate Panel 6 Armed Services: McCain loss could allow return of Inhofe

• If the Republicans and McCain win: John McCain • (R-Ariz.) would remain chairman and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) would remain as the panel’s top Democrat. A McCain loss opens the door to Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) returning as chairman.

McCain Reed • If the Democrats win: Reed would become chairman. McCain is term-limited and Inhofe could return as ranking member.

• Other notes: McCain can serve as chairman for only two more years. Inhofe Chairman Ranking member

Current John McCain (Ariz.) Jack Reed (R.I.) Republican majority McCain Reed Democratic majority Reed Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.)

Photo credits: Senate portraits 7 Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs: New leadership as Shelby hits

• If the Republicans win: (R-) is next in line to become chairman, because Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) is term- limited. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) would probably continue serving as the panel's top Democrat.

• If the Democrats win: Brown is slated to take the gavel, and Crapo would probably become the panel’s top Republican, as Crapo Brown he was in the 113th Congress. Shelby has already served three Congresses as ranking Republican.

• Other notes: If former Sen. (D-Ind.) is elected and makes a deal to regain his previous seniority, he could become chairman of the panel in a Democratic-majority Senate, although the chances are slim. Bayh Chairman Ranking member

Current Richard Shelby (Ala.) Sherrod Brown (Ohio) Republican majority Mike Crapo (Idaho) Brown Democratic majority Brown Crapo Photo credits: Senate portraits Source: Senate Banking Committee Poised for More Activity in 2017 8 Budget: Democrats could shuffle

• If the Republicans win: Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) would remain chairman. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who caucuses with Democrats, is seeking to be ranking member on the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee if Patty Murray (D-Wash.) moves. He could be replaced by (D-R.I.), who stood in for him during presidential primary, or (D-Va.) Enzi Sanders • If the Democrats win: Enzi would be ranking member. Shuffle between Democrats would be the same.

• Other notes: A Clinton White House may not be comfortable with Sanders as Budget or HELP chairman.

Whitehouse Warner Chairman Ranking member

Current Mike Enzi (Wyo.) Bernie Sanders (Vt.) Republican majority Enzi Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.) Democratic majority Whitehouse Enzi Photo credits: Senate portraits Sources: Democratic Senate May Force Choices for Sanders, Whitehouse; Sanders to Pursue HELP Panel Gavel if Democrats Regain Senate 9 Energy & Natural Resources: Change in control would mean Republican changes

• If the Republicans win: Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Ranking Democrat Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) would stay in place.

• If the Democrats win: Cantwell could become chairman. Murkowski served three Congresses as Murkowski Cantwell ranking Republican and probably would be replaced by John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)

• Other Notes: If Barrasso becomes ranking member, he would give up the top spot on the Environment & Public Works Committee. Barrasso Chairman Ranking member

Current Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) Maria Cantwell (Wash.) Republican majority Murkowski Cantwell Democratic majority Cantwell John Barrasso (Wyo.) Photo Credits: Senate portraits Sources: Barrasso, Carper Seen as Vying for Environment Panel Chairman; Eyeing Democratic Majority, Senators Rethink Climate Strategy 10 Environment & Public Works: Term limits, retirement mean new leadership in both parties

• If the Republicans win: John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) would succeed term-limited Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) Tom Carper (D-Del.) may become ranking member (see slide 11); Ben Cardin (D-Md.) could choose the role instead of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) or Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) are options. Barrasso Carper • If the Democrats win: Same for the Democrats. Barrasso could move to Energy & Natural Resources, where Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is term-limited as ranking member, making way for Shelley (R-W.Va.)

• Other notes: The top Democrat will depend on other members, such as Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Sanders. Moore Capito Cardin Chairman Ranking member

Current Jim Inhofe (Okla.) Barbara Boxer (Calif.) Republican majority John Barrasso (Wyo.) Tom Carper (Del.) Democratic majority Carper Barrasso or (W.Va.)

Photo Credits: Senate portraits Sources: Barrasso, Carper Seen as Vying for Environment Panel Chairman; Eyeing Democratic Majority, Senators Rethink Climate Strategy 11 Health, Education, Labor & Pensions: Murray move could pave way for Sanders

• If the Republicans win: Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) would probably continue serving as chairman. Patty Murray’s (D-Wash.) move to the Appropriations Committee or another leadership position would create an opening for Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is interested in the gavel.

Alexander Sanders • If the Democrats win: Sanders could take the helm and Alexander would probably remain as the top Republican.

• Other notes: Bob Casey (D-Pa.) could be in the running if Sanders doesn’t take the gavel. Sanders also could stay at Budget or seek the Environment & Public Works slot. Casey Chairman Ranking Member

Current Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) Patty Murray (Wash.) Republican majority Alexander Bernie Sanders (Vt.) Democratic majority Sanders Alexander Photo credits: Senate portraits Source: Changes Ahead for Labor Committee Leadership? 12 Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs: Johnson loss would open door, Carper’s choice

• If the Republicans win: Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is behind in the polls and a loss would open the door to (R-Ohio) under a Republican majority. Tom Carper (D-Del.) would remain ranking member.

• If the Democrats win: Carper would be chairman again if he chooses, though he has the option to become chairman Johnson Carper of the Environment & Public Works Committee (EPW). Johnson could serve as ranking member if he wins, or be replaced by John McCain (R-Ariz.), Portman, (R-Ky.) or (R-Okla.)

• Other notes: If Carper moves to EPW, the next Democrat to lead the committee would be Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) Portman McCaskill Chairman Ranking member

Current Ron Johnson (Wis.) Tom Carper (Del.) Republican majority Rob Portman (Ohio) Carper Democratic majority Carper or Claire McCaskill (Mo.) Portman Photo credits: Senate portraits Source: Eyeing Democratic Majority, Senators Rethink Climate Strategy 13 Intelligence: Burr loss could lead to shuffle

• If the Republicans win: Richard Burr (R-N.C.) is in a tight race. If he loses and the Republicans keep the Senate, (R-Idaho) is next in line for the gavel. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) would remain ranking member.

Burr Feinstein • If the Democrats win: Feinstein would be chairman if the Democrats control the Senate. If Burr wins, he would remain ranking member. Risch would be next in the event of a Burr loss.

Risch Chairman Ranking member

Current Richard Burr (N.C.) Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) Republican majority Burr or Jim Risch (Idaho) Feinstein Democratic majority Feinstein Burr or Risch

Photo credits: Senate portraits 14 Rules & Administration: Blunt Loss could Benefit Cruz, Feinstein in Line for Dems

• If the Republicans win: Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) could remain chairman, provided he’s re-elected. Though other senators have more seniority, Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who is term-limited on the Banking Committee, could become chairman if Blunt loses his re-election campaign. (D-N.Y.) is slated to become the party’s leader and would Blunt Durbin probably vacate his role. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) may take Schumer’s place.

• If the Democrats win: Durbin as chairman and a similar shift for Republicans.

Shelby Chairman Ranking member

Current Roy Blunt (Mo.) Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) Republican majority Blunt Dick Durbin (Ill.) Democratic majority Durbin Blunt

Photo credits: Senate portraits 15 Small Business: Straightforward Republican succession, possible Democratic mystery

• If the Republicans win: Jim Risch (R-Idaho) could succeed retiring chairman David Vitter (R-La.) Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) would retain her position, barring changes elsewhere. If Risch moves to a different committee, (R-Fla.) could be next in line.

Shaheen • If the Democrats win: Shaheen would take the gavel, and Risch Risch would become ranking member.

Other notes: (D-N.D.) could become the top Democrat if Shaheen moves to the Foreign Relations Committee following a Ben Cardin (D-Md.) shift to Environment & Public Works. Rubio Heitkamp

Chairman Ranking member

Current David Vitter (La.) Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) Republican majority Jim Risch (Idaho) Shaheen Democratic majority Shaheen Risch

Photo credits: Senate portraits 16 Standing Committees where no change is expected if Republicans keep the majority

Committee Chairman Ranking Member

Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Pat Roberts (Kan.) Debbie Stabenow (Mich.)

Commerce, Science & Transportation John Thune (S.D.) Bill Nelson (Fla.)

Finance Orrin Hatch (Utah) Ron Wyden (Ore.)

Foreign Relations Bob Corker (Tenn.) Ben Cardin (Md.)

Veterans' Affairs Johnny Isakson (Ga.) Richard Blumenthal (Conn.)