Blunt re-elected in Senate Republican leadership

The Senate Republican Conference yesterday elected Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and five others for leadership roles.

The junior senator from the Show-Me State was re-elected as vice chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, the organization for the Senate’s controlling party, according to a news release.

In his role, Blunt will continue leading Senate Republicans’ communications efforts across multiple digital platforms.

“I’m proud that the American people have returned a Republican majority to the Senate to continue advancing their priorities,” Blunt said in the release. “Now more than ever, it is critical that we maintain an open and robust dialogue with the American people about the challenges they’re facing and what we’re doing to address them.”

On Election Day, Missouri voters chose to re-elect Blunt over Democratic challenger Jason Kander in a tight race that came down to a roughly 3 percent margin.

The Senate Republican Conference also yesterday elected:
    •    Mitch McConnell of Kentucky as Senate Republican leader;
    •    John Cornyn of Texas as whip;
    •    John Thune of South Dakota as Senate Republican Conference chairman;
    •    John Barrasso of Wyoming as Senate Republican Policy Committee chairman; and
    •    Cory Gardner of Colorado as National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman.

U.S. Senate Democrats also elected their leaders yesterday for the 115th Congress. Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill was not on the list, but she was retained as the top Democrat in the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

Those chosen for leadership were:
    •    Charles Schumer of New York as Senate Democratic leader and chairman of the conference;
    •    Dick Durbin of Illinois as minority whip;
    •    Debbie Stabenow of Michigan as chairwoman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee;
    •    Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts as vice chairwoman of the conference;
    •    Mark Warner of Virginia as vice chairman of the conference;
    •    Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota as chairwoman of the steering committee;
    •    Bernie Sanders of Vermont as chairman of outreach;
    •    Joe Manchin of West Virginia as vice chairman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee; and
    •    Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin as secretary.