Members of each political party convene in private meetings known as party conferences (or party caucuses) to elect floor leaders, make committee assignments, and set legislative agendas. Each party elects a Conference Secretary who is responsible for keeping the minutes. Edward Carmack of Tennessee became the first Democratic Conference Secretary in 1903, and the Republicans elected their first Conference Secretary, Charles Curtis of Kansas, in 1911.
| Name (state) | Term | |
|---|---|---|
 |
Curtis, Charles (KS) | 1911-1913 |
 |
Kenyon, William S. (IA) | 1913-1915 |
 |
Wadsworth, James W. Jr. (NY) | 1915-1927 |
 |
Hale, Frederick (ME) | 1927-1940 |
 |
White, Wallace H. Jr. (ME) | 1940-1944 |
 |
Burton, Harold H. (OH) | 1944-1945 |
 |
Gurney, J. Chandler (SD) | 1945-1946 |
 |
Young, Milton R. (ND) | 1946-1971 |
 |
Cotton, Norris (NH) | 1971-1972 |
 |
Bennett, Wallace F. (UT) | 1973-1974 |
 |
Stafford, Robert T. (VT) | 1976-1976 |
 |
Hansen, Clifford P. (WY) | 1977-1978 |
 |
Garn, E.J. "Jake" (UT) | 1979-1985 |
 |
Cochran, William Thad (MS) | 1985-1991 |
 |
Kasten, Robert W. Jr. (WI) | 1991-1993 |
 |
Lott, Trent (MS) | 1993-1995 |
 |
Mack, Connie (FL) | 1995-1997 |
 |
Coverdell, Paul (GA) | 1997-2000 |
 |
Hutchison, Kay Bailey (TX) | 2001-20071 |
 |
Cornyn, John (TX) | 2007-2009 |
 |
Thune, John (SD) | 2009-June 2009 |
 |
Murkowski, Lisa (AK) | June 2009- Spetember 17, 2010 |
 |
Barrasso, John (WY) | September 22, 2010-2012 |
 |
Blunt, Roy (MO) | 2012-present |
1Note:With election of Kay Bailey Hutchison, the position became known as Republican Conference Vice-Chair.
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| Senator (state) | Term | |
|---|---|---|
 |
Carmack, Edward W. (TN) | 1903-1907 |
 |
Owen, Robert L. (OK) | 1907-1911 |
 |
Chilton, William E. (WV) | 1911-1913 |
 |
Saulsbury, Willard (DE) | 1913-1916 |
 |
Pittman, Key (NV) | 1916-19171 |
 |
King, William (UT) | 1917-1927 |
 |
Black, Hugo (AL) | 1927-1937 |
 |
Lee, Joshua B. (OK) | 1937-1942 |
 |
Maloney, Francis T. (CT) | 1943-1945 |
 |
McMahon, Brien (CT) | 1945-1952 |
 |
Hennings, Thomas (MO) | 1953-1960 |
 |
Smathers, George (FL) | 1960-1966 |
 |
Byrd, Robert C. (WV) | 1967-1971 |
 |
Moss, Frank (UT) | 1971-1976 |
 |
Inouye, Daniel (HI) | 1977-1989 |
 |
Pryor, David (AR) | 1989-1995 |
 |
Mikulski, Barbara A. (MD) | 1995-2005 |
 |
Stabenow, Debbie (MI) | 2005-2007 |
 |
Murray, Patty (WA) | 2007-2017 |
 |
Baldwin, Tammy (WI) | 2017-present |
1Note: Served as acting secretary.
