Senate membership shows how the parties have changed – Roll Call

ANALYSIS Like the start of the 107th Congress, which began Jan. 3, 2001, and ended Jan. 3, 2003, todays Senate (the 117th Congress) is split between the two parties. In 2001, Republican George W. Bush entered the White House with his party in control of the chamber, thanks to Vice President Dick Cheneys tie-breaking vote. Now, Joe Biden is president, and his party controls the Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker.

But while the party affiliations in 2001-2003 and 2021-2023 are similar, the two parties look dramatically different from a mere two decades ago. Sixteen senators of that 107th Congress six Republicans and 10 Democrats are still in office. Except for one obvious exception (Maines Susan Collins), the Republicans in that group are and have been very conservative, while the Democrats are and have been very liberal.

Besides Collins, the five other GOP senators still serving are Alabamas Richard C. Shelby, Idahos Michael D. Crapo, Iowas Charles E. Grassley, Kentuckys Mitch McConnell and Oklahomas James M. Inhofe. On the Democratic side, theres Californias Dianne Feinstein, Delawares Thomas R. Carper, New Yorks Charles E. Schumer, Illinois Richard J. Durbin, Michigans Debbie Stabenow, Oregons Ron Wyden, Rhode Islands Jack Reed, Vermonts Patrick J. Leahy, and both of Washingtons senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell.

Republicans often talk about how much more liberal the Democratic Party has become, and it certainly is true that in the 2001-2003 Senate, at least six Democratic senators could be classified as conservative or moderate Arkansas Blanche Lincoln, Georgias Zell Miller, Nebraskas Ben Nelson, Indianas Evan Bayh, Louisianas John B. Breaux and South Carolinas Ernest F. Hollings.

Today, only West Virginias Joe Manchin III falls into the moderate-to-conservative Democratic category, though a few others, such as Arizonas Kyrsten Sinema, can cause heartburn for progressive Democrats on individual issues.

Continue reading here:
Senate membership shows how the parties have changed - Roll Call