This week, several women were either reelected or newly elected to positions of leadership within their respective political parties. On the House side, Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH) will again chair the Republican Conference, the highest position ever attained by a woman in the majority party. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the only woman to lead either political party in Congress, was reelected Democratic Leader. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) will again serve as the Co-Chair of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
On the Senate side, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) will serve as Vice Chair of the Republican Conference. Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) narrowly defeated, 28-27, Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) to become the first woman to chair the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) was elected Secretary of the Democratic Conference, a position vacated by Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus will be chaired by Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA), and Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) will serve as the caucus Whip.
The Congressional Black Caucus will hold their leadership elections on December 6. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) currently serves as Vice Chair. Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL) serves as second Vice Chair, and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) serves as Whip.
The Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues will hold their elections early next year. Reps. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY) currently chair the Caucus. Reps. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL) and Hilda Solis (D-CA) serve as Vice Chairs.
