Policy Committee Chairpersons
Chapter 1: Policy Committee Chair
Chapter 2: Republican Policy Committee Chairpersons
Chapter 3: Democratic Policy Committee Chairpersons
Policy Committee Chair
The Senate created Democratic and Republican Policy Committees in 1947. Until 2000, the Democratic Policy Committee was chaired by the party floor leader, who also served as chair of the Democratic Conference. A co-chair position was added in 1989. In the 106th Congress, the majority leader dropped his co-chair status and the chair of the policy committee is now an elected post. The Republican Policy Committee elects its chairperson separate from the party floor leader.
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Republican Policy Committee Chairpersons
Robert A. Taft (OH)
Term: 1947-1952
William F. Knowland (CA)
Term: 1953
Homer Ferguson (MI)
Term: 1954
Styles Bridges (NH)
Term: 1955-1961
Bourke B. Hickenlooper (IA)
Term: 1962-1968
Gordon Allott (CO)
Term: 1969-1972
John Tower (TX)
Term: 1973-1985
William Armstrong (CO)
Term: 1985-1990
Donald Lee Nickles (OK)
Term: 1991-1996
Larry Craig (ID)
Term: 1996-2003
Jon Kyl (AZ)
Term: 2003-2007
Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)
Term: 2007- 2009
John Ensign (NV)
Term: 2009- June 2009
John Thune (SD)
Term: 2009-2012
John Barrasso (WY)
Term: 2012-present
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Democratic Policy Committee Chairpersons
Alben W. Barkley (KY)
Term: 1947-1949
Scott W. Lucas (IL)
Term: 1949-1951
Ernest W. McFarland (AZ)
Term: 1951-1953
Lyndon B. Johnson (TX)
Term: 1953-1961
Michael J. Mansfield (MT)
Term: 1961-1977
Robert C. Byrd (WV)
Term: 1977-1989
George J. Mitchell (ME)
Term: 1989-1995
Co-chair: Thomas Daschle (SD)
Term: 1989-1995
Thomas Daschle (SD)
Term: 1995-1999
Co-Chair: Harry Reid (NV)
Term: 1995-1999
Byron Dorgan (ND)
Term: 1999-2011
Charles Schumer (NY)
Term: 2011-present
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