WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Patty Murray has been elected by the Democratic caucus to serve as assistant Democratic leader, the third-ranking position in Senate Democratic leadership.
Murray, a Democrat from Seattle, was elected Wednesday.
In this post, Murray will work with Sen. Chuck Schumer, Democratic leader, to shape the Democratic agenda and strategy, and will play a critical role in implementing it on and off the Senate floor with the rest of the leadership team and caucus.
Murray has served as the conference secretary, the fourth-ranking position, since 2006.
“We have a tough road ahead of us with Republicans in control of Congress and a new Republican president who campaigned on dividing our country and rolling back all of the progress we’ve made over the past eight years,” Murray said in a news release.
“But I stand with the rest of this Democratic leadership team ready to get to work if Republicans are willing to work with us to move our country in the right direction, and ready to fight back — tooth and nail — if they try to divide our country, hurt our constituents or drag us backward.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who ran against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for president, will serve as chair of outreach.
Other members of the leadership team include Minority Whip Sen. Dick Durbin; Sen. Debbie Stabenow, chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee; Sen. Elizabeth Warren, vice chair of the Conference; Sen. Mark Warner, vice chair of the Conference; Sen. Amy Klobuchar, chair of the Steering Committee; Sen. Joe Manchin; vice chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee; and Senate Democratic Conference Secretary Sen. Tammy Baldwin.