# House Democratic Caucus

The House Democratic Caucus is a congressional caucus composed of all Democratic representatives in the United States House of Representatives, voting and non-voting, and is responsible for nominating and electing the Democratic Party leadership in the chamber. In its roles as a party conference, the caucus writes and enforces rules of conduct and discipline for its members, approves committee assignments, and serves as the primary forum for development of party policy and legislative priorities. It hosts weekly meetings for these purposes and to communicate the party's message to members.
When the caucus holds the majority of seats, it is usually led by the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives who is assisted on the floor by the House majority leader and the party's chief whip. When in the minority, it is led by the House minority leader, assisted by the chief whip. The caucus has a Caucus chairman and Caucus vice-chair (formerly called the secretary). For the 119th Congress, Hakeem Jeffries was elected as the minority leader, Katherine Clark became the minority whip and Pete Aguilar was chosen as the Caucus chairman.

## Current hierarchy

Effective with the start of the 118th Congress, the chain of command conference leadership is as follows (from highest to lowest):
* Hakeem Jeffries (NY) as House Minority Leader (Caucus Leader)
* Katherine Clark (MA) as House Minority Whip
* Pete Aguilar (CA) as Caucus Chairman
* Ted Lieu (CA) as Caucus Vice Chair

## Leadership history

The House Democratic Caucus, through its institutional antecedent, the Democratic-Republican caucus, was established on April 2, 1796, to stop a treaty with Great Britain which unfairly treated American sailors. For many years, through 1820, it nominated presidential candidates (before the era of national nominating conventions).
Since 2023, the House Democratic leader has been Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York (the first African-American congressional party leader in U.S. history). He was elected to succeed longtime Democratic leader and the first woman speaker of the House in U.S. history Nancy Pelosi.
At the Organizational Meeting on November 18, 2008, of the Democratic Caucus for the 111th Congress, Representative John B. Larson (D-Connecticut) was elected Caucus chairman by acclamation. The election was presided over by the outgoing chairman of the Democratic Caucus for the 110th Congress, former representative Rahm Emanuel (D-Illinois). Rep. Larson officially assumed the position of chairman on the first day of the 111th Congress, January 3, 2009.
After his election as chairman at the Organizational Meeting on November 18, Chairman Larson presided over the election of Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-California), who defeated Representative Marcy Kaptur of Ohio by a vote count of 175 to 67. Rep. Becerra likewise assumed his vice-chairmanship on January 3.

## Leaders of the House Democratic Caucus

| Congress | Leader | Leader | District | Took office | Left office | House Speaker |
| 20th | | Andrew Stevenson (1784–1857) | Virginia 9 | December 3, 1827 | June 2, 1834 | Himself 1827–1834 |
| 21st | | Andrew Stevenson (1784–1857) | Virginia 9 | December 3, 1827 | June 2, 1834 | Himself 1827–1834 |
| 22nd | | Andrew Stevenson (1784–1857) | Virginia 9 | December 3, 1827 | June 2, 1834 | Himself 1827–1834 |
| 23rd | | Andrew Stevenson (1784–1857) | Virginia 11 | December 3, 1827 | June 2, 1834 | Himself 1827–1834 |
| 23rd | | John Bell (1796–1869) | Tennessee 7 | June 2, 1834 | March 4, 1835 | Himself 1834–1835 |
| 24th | | James K. Polk (1795–1849) | Tennessee 9 | December 7, 1835 | March 4, 1839 | Himself 1835–1839 |
| 25th | | James K. Polk (1795–1849) | Tennessee 9 | December 7, 1835 | March 4, 1839 | Himself 1835–1839 |
| 26th | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Hunter 1839–1841 |
| 27th | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | White 1841–1843 |
| 28th | | John Winston Jones (1791–1848) | Virginia 6 | December 4, 1843 | March 4, 1845 | Himself 1843–1845 |
| 29th | | John Wesley Davis (1799–1859) | Indiana 6 | December 1, 1845 | March 4, 1847 | Himself 1845–1847 |
| 30th | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Winthrop 1847–1849 |
| 31st | | Howell Cobb (1815–1868) | Georgia 6 | December 22, 1849 | March 4, 1851 | Himself 1849–1851 |
| 32nd | | Linn Boyd (1800–1859) | Kentucky 1 | December 1, 1851 | March 4, 1855 | Himself 1851–1855 |
| 33rd | | Linn Boyd (1800–1859) | Kentucky 1 | December 1, 1851 | March 4, 1855 | Himself 1851–1855 |
| 34th | | George Washington Jones (1806–1884) | Tennessee 6 | March 4, 1855 | March 4, 1857 | Banks 1856–1857 |
| 35th | | James Lawrence Orr (1822–1873) | South Carolina 5 | December 7, 1857 | March 3, 1859 | Himself 1857–1859 |
| 36th | | George S. Houston (1811–1879) | Alabama 5 | March 4, 1859 | January 21, 1861 | Pennington 1860–1861 |
| 37th | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Grow 1861–1863 |
| 38th | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Colfax 1863–1869 |
| 39th | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | | Colfax 1863–1869 |
| 40th | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | | Colfax 1863–1869 |
| 40th | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Pomeroy 1869 |
| 41st | | Samuel J. Randall (1828–1890) | Pennsylvania 1 | March 4, 1869 | March 3, 1871 | Blaine 1869–1875 |
| 41st | | William E. Niblack (1822–1893) | Indiana 1 | March 4, 1869 | March 3, 1871 | Blaine 1869–1875 |
| 42nd | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | | Blaine 1869–1875 |
| 43rd | | William E. Niblack (1822–1893) | Indiana 1 | March 4, 1873 | March 3, 1875 | Blaine 1869–1875 |
| 44th | | Michael C. Kerr (1827–1876) | Indiana 3 | December 6, 1875 | August 19, 1876 | Himself 1875–1876 |
| 44th | | Samuel J. Randall (1828–1890) | Pennsylvania 3 | December 4, 1876 | March 3, 1881 | Himself 1876–1881 |
| 45th | | Samuel J. Randall (1828–1890) | Pennsylvania 3 | December 4, 1876 | March 3, 1881 | Himself 1876–1881 |
| 46th | | Samuel J. Randall (1828–1890) | Pennsylvania 3 | December 4, 1876 | March 3, 1881 | Himself 1876–1881 |
| 47th | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Keifer 1881–1883 |
| 48th | | John G. Carlisle (1834–1910) | Kentucky 6 | December 3, 1883 | March 3, 1889 | Himself 1883–1889 |
| 49th | | John G. Carlisle (1834–1910) | Kentucky 6 | December 3, 1883 | March 3, 1889 | Himself 1883–1889 |
| 50th | | John G. Carlisle (1834–1910) | Kentucky 6 | December 3, 1883 | March 3, 1889 | Himself 1883–1889 |
| 51st | | William S. Holman (1822–1897) | Indiana 4 | March 4, 1889 | March 3, 1891 | Reed 1889–1891 |
| 52nd | | Charles Frederick Crisp (1845–1896) | Georgia 3 | December 8, 1891 | March 3, 1895 | Himself 1891–1895 |
| 53rd | | Charles Frederick Crisp (1845–1896) | Georgia 3 | December 8, 1891 | March 3, 1895 | Himself 1891–1895 |
| 54th | | David B. Culberson (1830–1900) | Texas 4 | March 4, 1895 | March 3, 1897 | Reed 1895–1899 |
| 55th | | James D. Richardson (1843–1914) | Tennessee 5 | March 4, 1897 | March 3, 1903 | Reed 1895–1899 |
| 56th | | James D. Richardson (1843–1914) | Tennessee 5 | March 4, 1897 | March 3, 1903 | Henderson 1899–1903 |
| 57th | | James D. Richardson (1843–1914) | Tennessee 5 | March 4, 1897 | March 3, 1903 | Henderson 1899–1903 |
| 58th | | John Sharp Williams (1854–1932) | Mississippi 8 | March 4, 1903 | March 3, 1909 | Cannon 1903–1911 |
| 59th | | John Sharp Williams (1854–1932) | Mississippi 8 | March 4, 1903 | March 3, 1909 | Cannon 1903–1911 |
| 60th | | John Sharp Williams (1854–1932) | Mississippi 8 | March 4, 1903 | March 3, 1909 | Cannon 1903–1911 |
| 61st | | Champ Clark (1850–1921) | Missouri 9 | March 4, 1909 | March 2, 1921 | Cannon 1903–1911 |
| 62nd | | Champ Clark (1850–1921) | Missouri 9 | March 4, 1909 | March 2, 1921 | Himself 1911–1919 |
| 63rd | | Champ Clark (1850–1921) | Missouri 9 | March 4, 1909 | March 2, 1921 | Himself 1911–1919 |
| 64th | | Champ Clark (1850–1921) | Missouri 9 | March 4, 1909 | March 2, 1921 | Himself 1911–1919 |
| 65th | | Champ Clark (1850–1921) | Missouri 9 | March 4, 1909 | March 2, 1921 | Himself 1911–1919 |
| 66th | | Champ Clark (1850–1921) | Missouri 9 | March 4, 1909 | March 2, 1921 | Gillett 1919–1925 |
| 67th | | Claude Kitchin (1869–1923) | North Carolina 2 | March 4, 1921 | March 4, 1923 | Gillett 1919–1925 |
| 68th | | Finis J. Garrett (1875–1956) | Tennessee 9 | March 4, 1923 | March 3, 1929 | Gillett 1919–1925 |
| 69th | | Finis J. Garrett (1875–1956) | Tennessee 9 | March 4, 1923 | March 3, 1929 | Longworth 1925–1931 |
| 70th | | Finis J. Garrett (1875–1956) | Tennessee 9 | March 4, 1923 | March 3, 1929 | Longworth 1925–1931 |
| 71st | | John Nance Garner (1868–1967) | Texas 15 | March 4, 1929 | March 3, 1933 | Longworth 1925–1931 |
| 72nd | | John Nance Garner (1868–1967) | Texas 15 | March 4, 1929 | March 3, 1933 | Himself 1931–1933 |
| 73rd | | Henry Thomas Rainey (1860–1934) | Illinois 20 | March 9, 1933 | August 19, 1934 | Himself 1933–1934 |
| 74th | | Jo Byrns (1869–1936) | Tennessee 5 | January 3, 1935 | June 4, 1936 | Himself 1935–1936 |
| 74th | | William B. Bankhead (1874–1940) | Alabama 7 | June 4, 1936 | September 15, 1940 | Himself 1936–1940 |
| 75th | | William B. Bankhead (1874–1940) | Alabama 7 | June 4, 1936 | September 15, 1940 | Himself 1936–1940 |
| 76th | | William B. Bankhead (1874–1940) | Alabama 7 | June 4, 1936 | September 15, 1940 | Himself 1936–1940 |
| 76th | | Sam Rayburn (1882–1961) | Texas 4 | September 16, 1940 | November 16, 1961 | Himself 1940–1947 |
| 77th | | Sam Rayburn (1882–1961) | Texas 4 | September 16, 1940 | November 16, 1961 | Himself 1940–1947 |
| 78th | | Sam Rayburn (1882–1961) | Texas 4 | September 16, 1940 | November 16, 1961 | Himself 1940–1947 |
| 79th | | Sam Rayburn (1882–1961) | Texas 4 | September 16, 1940 | November 16, 1961 | Himself 1940–1947 |
| 80th | | Sam Rayburn (1882–1961) | Texas 4 | September 16, 1940 | November 16, 1961 | Martin 1947–1949 |
| 81st | | Sam Rayburn (1882–1961) | Texas 4 | September 16, 1940 | November 16, 1961 | Himself 1949–1953 |
| 82nd | | Sam Rayburn (1882–1961) | Texas 4 | September 16, 1940 | November 16, 1961 | Himself 1949–1953 |
| 83rd | | Sam Rayburn (1882–1961) | Texas 4 | September 16, 1940 | November 16, 1961 | Martin 1953–1955 |
| 84th | | Sam Rayburn (1882–1961) | Texas 4 | September 16, 1940 | November 16, 1961 | Himself 1955–1961 |
| 85th | | Sam Rayburn (1882–1961) | Texas 4 | September 16, 1940 | November 16, 1961 | Himself 1955–1961 |
| 86th | | Sam Rayburn (1882–1961) | Texas 4 | September 16, 1940 | November 16, 1961 | Himself 1955–1961 |
| 87th | | Sam Rayburn (1882–1961) | Texas 4 | September 16, 1940 | November 16, 1961 | Himself 1955–1961 |
| 87th | | John W. McCormack (1891–1980) | Massachusetts 12 | January 10, 1962 | January 3, 1971 | Himself 1962–1971 |
| 88th | | John W. McCormack (1891–1980) | Massachusetts 9 | January 10, 1962 | January 3, 1971 | Himself 1962–1971 |
| 89th | | John W. McCormack (1891–1980) | Massachusetts 9 | January 10, 1962 | January 3, 1971 | Himself 1962–1971 |
| 90th | | John W. McCormack (1891–1980) | Massachusetts 9 | January 10, 1962 | January 3, 1971 | Himself 1962–1971 |
| 91st | | John W. McCormack (1891–1980) | Massachusetts 9 | January 10, 1962 | January 3, 1971 | Himself 1962–1971 |
| 92nd | | Carl Albert (1908–2000) | Oklahoma 3 | January 21, 1971 | January 3, 1977 | Himself 1971–1977 |
| 93rd | | Carl Albert (1908–2000) | Oklahoma 3 | January 21, 1971 | January 3, 1977 | Himself 1971–1977 |
| 94th | | Carl Albert (1908–2000) | Oklahoma 3 | January 21, 1971 | January 3, 1977 | Himself 1971–1977 |
| 95th | | Tip O'Neill (1912–1994) | Massachusetts 8 | January 4, 1977 | January 3, 1987 | Himself 1977–1987 |
| 96th | | Tip O'Neill (1912–1994) | Massachusetts 8 | January 4, 1977 | January 3, 1987 | Himself 1977–1987 |
| 97th | | Tip O'Neill (1912–1994) | Massachusetts 8 | January 4, 1977 | January 3, 1987 | Himself 1977–1987 |
| 98th | | Tip O'Neill (1912–1994) | Massachusetts 8 | January 4, 1977 | January 3, 1987 | Himself 1977–1987 |
| 99th | | Tip O'Neill (1912–1994) | Massachusetts 8 | January 4, 1977 | January 3, 1987 | Himself 1977–1987 |
| 100th | | Jim Wright (1922–2015) | Texas 12 | January 6, 1987 | June 6, 1989 | Himself 1987–1989 |
| 101st | | Jim Wright (1922–2015) | Texas 12 | January 6, 1987 | June 6, 1989 | Himself 1987–1989 |
| 101st | | Tom Foley (1929–2013) | Washington 5 | June 6, 1989 | January 3, 1995 | Himself 1989–1995 |
| 102nd | | Tom Foley (1929–2013) | Washington 5 | June 6, 1989 | January 3, 1995 | Himself 1989–1995 |
| 103rd | | Tom Foley (1929–2013) | Washington 5 | June 6, 1989 | January 3, 1995 | Himself 1989–1995 |
| 104th | | Dick Gephardt (born 1941) | Missouri 3 | January 3, 1995 | January 3, 2003 | Gingrich 1995–1999 |
| 105th | | Dick Gephardt (born 1941) | Missouri 3 | January 3, 1995 | January 3, 2003 | Gingrich 1995–1999 |
| 106th | | Dick Gephardt (born 1941) | Missouri 3 | January 3, 1995 | January 3, 2003 | Hastert 1999–2007 |
| 107th | | Dick Gephardt (born 1941) | Missouri 3 | January 3, 1995 | January 3, 2003 | Hastert 1999–2007 |
| 108th | | Nancy Pelosi (born 1940) | California 8 | January 3, 2003 | January 3, 2023 | Hastert 1999–2007 |
| 109th | | Nancy Pelosi (born 1940) | California 8 | January 3, 2003 | January 3, 2023 | Hastert 1999–2007 |
| 110th | | Nancy Pelosi (born 1940) | California 8 | January 3, 2003 | January 3, 2023 | Herself 2007–2011 |
| 111th | | Nancy Pelosi (born 1940) | California 8 | January 3, 2003 | January 3, 2023 | Herself 2007–2011 |
| 112th | | Nancy Pelosi (born 1940) | California 8 | January 3, 2003 | January 3, 2023 | Boehner 2011–2015 |
| 113th | | Nancy Pelosi (born 1940) | California 12 | January 3, 2003 | January 3, 2023 | Boehner 2011–2015 |
| 114th | | Nancy Pelosi (born 1940) | California 12 | January 3, 2003 | January 3, 2023 | Boehner 2011–2015 |
| 114th | | Nancy Pelosi (born 1940) | California 12 | January 3, 2003 | January 3, 2023 | Ryan 2015–2019 |
| 115th | | Nancy Pelosi (born 1940) | California 12 | January 3, 2003 | January 3, 2023 | Ryan 2015–2019 |
| 116th | | Nancy Pelosi (born 1940) | California 12 | January 3, 2003 | January 3, 2023 | Herself 2019–2023 |
| 117th | | Nancy Pelosi (born 1940) | California 12 | January 3, 2003 | January 3, 2023 | Herself 2019–2023 |
| 118th | | Hakeem Jeffries (born 1970) | New York 8 | January 3, 2023 | Incumbent | McCarthy 2023 |
| 118th | | Hakeem Jeffries (born 1970) | New York 8 | January 3, 2023 | Incumbent | McHenry 2023 |
| 118th | | Hakeem Jeffries (born 1970) | New York 8 | January 3, 2023 | Incumbent | Johnson 2023–present |
| 119th | | Hakeem Jeffries (born 1970) | New York 8 | January 3, 2023 | Incumbent | Johnson 2023–present |