Seniority in the United States Senate

2022-06-20T21:26:46Z

191.9.60.47:

{{Short description|Ranking of United States senators by length of service}}
{{About||
seniority list of all United States senators who ever served in the current Congress
|List of United States senators in the 117th Congress by seniority}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{United States Senate}}
[[United States senator]]s are conventionally ranked by the length of their tenure in the Senate. The senator in each [[U.S. state]] with the longer time in office is known as the ''senior senator''; the other is the ''junior senator''. This convention has no official standing, though seniority confers several benefits, including preference in the choice of [[United States Senate committee|committee assignments]] and physical offices. When senators have been in office for the same length of time, a number of tiebreakers, including previous offices held, are used to determine seniority. Per traditions, the longest serving senator of the majority party is named [[President pro tempore of the United States Senate|president pro tempore of the Senate]], the second-highest office in the Senate and the third in the line of succession to the [[President of the United States|presidency of the United States]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kilgore|first=Ed|date=2021-11-17|title=Californians Move Toward Lock on Presidential Succession|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/11/californians-move-toward-lock-on-presidential-succession.html|access-date=2022-02-13|website=Intelligencer|language=en-us}}</ref>

== Benefits of seniority ==
The [[United States Constitution]] does not mandate differences in rights or power, but Senate rules give more power to senators with more seniority. Generally, senior senators will have more power, especially within their own [[congressional caucus|caucuses]]. In addition, by custom, senior senators from the president's party control federal [[patronage]] appointments in their states.

There are several benefits, including the following:
* Traditionally, the most senior member of the majority party is named [[President pro tempore of the United States Senate|president pro tempore of the Senate]].
* Senators are given preferential treatment in choosing [[United States congressional committee|committee]] assignments based on seniority. Seniority on a committee is based on length of time serving on that committee, which means a senator may rank above another in committee seniority but be more junior in the full Senate. Although the committee chairmanship is an elected position, it is traditionally given to the most senior senator of the majority party serving on the committee, and not already holding a conflicting position such as chairmanship of another committee. The [[ranking member]] of a committee (called the vice-chairman in some [[Select or special committee (United States Congress)|select committees]]) is elected in the same way.
* Greater seniority enables a senator to choose a desk closer to the front of the [[United States Senate chamber|Senate Chamber]].
* Senators with higher seniority may choose to move into better office space as those offices are vacated.
* Seniority determines the ranking in the [[United States order of precedence]] although other factors, such as being a former president or first lady, can place an individual higher in the order of precedence.

== Determining the beginning of a term ==
The beginning of an appointment does not necessarily coincide with the date the Senate convenes or when the new senator is sworn in.<ref name=chronolist>{{cite web | url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/chronlist.pdf | title= Senators of the United States 1789–present, A chronological list of senators since the First Congress in 1789 | publisher=[[Historian of the United States Senate|Senate Historical Office]] | date=January 3, 2021 | access-date = January 3, 2021}}</ref>

=== General elections ===
In the case of senators first elected in a general election for the upcoming Congress, their terms begin on the first day of the new Congress. For most of American history this was March 4 of odd-numbered years, but effective from 1935 the [[Twentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution|20th Amendment]] moved this to January 3 of odd-numbered years.

=== Run-off elections and special elections ===
In the case of senators elected in a [[run-off election]] occurring after the commencement of a new term, or a special election, their seniority date will be the date they are sworn in and not the first day of that Congress. A senator may be simultaneously elected to fill a term in a special election, and elected to the six-year term which begins on the upcoming January 3. Their seniority is that of someone chosen in a special election.

=== Appointments ===
The seniority date for an appointed senator is usually the date of the appointment,{{citation needed|date=January 2021|reason=Padilla was appointed on 2021 January 18 yet his seniority is based on 2021 January 20}} although the actual term does not begin until they take the oath of office. An incoming senator who holds another office, including membership in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]], must resign from that office before becoming a senator.

==Determining length of seniority==
A senator's seniority is primarily determined by length of continuous service; for example, a senator who has served for 12 years is more senior than one who has served for 10 years. Because several new senators usually join at the beginning of a new Congress, seniority is determined by prior federal or state government service and, if necessary, the amount of time spent in the tiebreaking office. These tiebreakers in order are:<ref name=chronolist/>
# Former senator
# Former [[Vice President of the United States]]
# Former member of the [[United States House of Representatives]]
# Former member of the [[Cabinet of the United States]]
# Former state [[Governor (United States)|governor]]
# Population of state based on the most recent [[United States Census|census]] when the senator took office

When more than one senator had such office, its length of time is used to break the tie. For instance, [[Roy Blunt]], [[Jerry Moran]], [[Rob Portman]], [[John Boozman]], [[Pat Toomey]], [[John Hoeven]], [[Marco Rubio]], [[Ron Johnson (Wisconsin politician)|Ron Johnson]], [[Rand Paul]], [[Richard Blumenthal]] and [[Mike Lee (American politician)|Mike Lee]] took office on January 3, 2011. The first five senators mentioned had served in the House of Representatives: Blunt and Moran had served for 14 years; Portman for 12; Boozman for nine; Toomey for six. Blunt outranks Moran because Missouri was ranked above Kansas by population in the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]]. As a former governor, Hoeven is ranked immediately after the former House members. The rest are ranked by population as of the 2000 census. These ranked from 40th to 50th in seniority when the [[117th United States Congress]] convened.

If two senators are tied on all criteria, the one whose last name comes first alphabetically is considered the senior senator. This happened with Senators [[Jon Ossoff]] and [[Raphael Warnock]], both of Georgia, who were sworn in on January 20, 2021. Because they were both newly elected senators from the same state, with no prior government service, no other tie-breaking criteria could be used. The Senate's official records, as well as the Democratic Caucus, thus consider Ossoff, whose name comes first alphabetically, as the senior senator, despite him being 17 years younger than Warnock.<ref name=chronolist/><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bluestein|first=Greg|date=|title='A new era': Ossoff, Warnock sworn into office, giving Democrats control of U.S. Senate|url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/a-new-era-ossoff-warnock-sworn-into-office-giving-democrats-control-of-senate/G4VMKL3ZGFH3TONBEPDF5LPMHI/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-22|website=Atlanta Journal Constitution|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wooten |first1=Nick |title=Will Ossoff or Warnock be Georgia's senior senator? The answer is a simple one |url=https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/state/georgia/article248630765.html |access-date=January 25, 2021 |work=[[Ledger-Enquirer]] |date=January 20, 2021}}</ref>

== Current seniority list ==

Only relevant factors are listed below. For senators whose seniority is based on their state's respective population, the state population ranking is given as determined by the relevant [[United States Census]] current at the time that they began service.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/statcomp/documents/1991-01.pdf | title=1991 U.S Census Report}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author=American FactFinder, United States Census Bureau | url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=n&_lang=en&mt_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_GCTPH1R_US9S&format=US-9S&_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1-R&ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&geo_id=01000US | title=2000 Census State Population Rankings | publisher=Factfinder.census.gov | access-date=May 28, 2010 | archive-url=https://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090403062125/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=n&_lang=en&mt_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_GCTPH1R_US9S&format=US-9S&_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1-R&ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&geo_id=01000US | archive-date=April 3, 2009 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php | title=Resident Population Data (Text Version) – 2010 Census, by state and census region}}</ref>

{{Legend2|{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{Small|(50)}}
{{spaces|3}}
{{Legend2|{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{Small|(48)}}
{{spaces|3}}
{{Legend2|{{party color|Independent (United States)}}|[[Independent politician|Independent]] | border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{Small|(2)}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|- valign=bottom
! Current rank
! Historical rank{{efn |name=rank| "Historical rank" refers to the senator's seniority over the entire history of the Senate since 1789, i.e. their position in the chronological ordering of all senators. This is an absolute number that does not change from one Congress to the next.}}<ref name=chronolist/>
! Senator
! colspan=2 | Party
! State
! Seniority date
! Other factors
! Committee and leadership positions
|-
! 1
! 1692
| {{sortname|Patrick|Leahy}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Vermont|Vermont]]
| January 3, 1975
| rowspan=8 |
| [[President pro tempore of the United States Senate|President pro tempore]] Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Appropriations]]
|-
! 2
! 1743
| {{sortname|Chuck|Grassley}}
| rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Iowa|Iowa]]
| January 3, 1981
| [[President pro tempore of the United States Senate#President pro tempore emeritus|President pro tempore emeritus]] Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on Judiciary|Judiciary]]
|-
! 3
! 1766
| {{sortname|Mitch|McConnell}}
| [[List of United States senators from Kentucky|Kentucky]]
| January 3, 1985
| [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Minority Leader]]
|-
! 4
! 1775
| {{sortname|Richard|Shelby}}
| Republican{{efn | Richard Shelby's 1994 party change did not break his service or seniority.}}
| [[List of United States senators from Alabama|Alabama]]
| January 3, 1987
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Appropriations]]
|-
! 5
! 1801
| {{sortname|Dianne|Feinstein}}
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from California|California]]
| November 4, 1992
|
|-
! 6
! 1810
| {{sortname|Patty|Murray}}
| [[List of United States senators from Washington|Washington]]
| January 3, 1993
| Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions|HELP]]
|-
! 7
! 1816
| {{sortname|Jim|Inhofe}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Oklahoma|Oklahoma]]
| November 16, 1994
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Armed Services]]
|-
! 8
! 1827
| {{sortname|Ron|Wyden}}
| rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=3 | Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Oregon|Oregon]]
| February 6, 1996
| Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on Finance|Finance]]
|-
! 9
! 1831
| {{sortname|Dick|Durbin}}
| [[List of United States senators from Illinois|Illinois]]
| rowspan=3 | January 3, 1997
| Former House member (14 years)
| [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Majority Whip]] Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Judiciary]]
|-
! 10
! 1835
| {{sortname|Jack|Reed|dab=Rhode Island politician}}
| [[List of United States senators from Rhode Island|Rhode Island]]
| Former House member (6 years)
| Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Armed Services]]
|-
! 11
! 1842
| {{sortname|Susan|Collins}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Maine|Maine]]
|
|
|-
! 12
! 1844
| {{sortname|Chuck|Schumer}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from New York|New York]]
| rowspan=2 | January 3, 1999
| Former House member (18 years)
| [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Majority Leader]]
|-
! 13
! 1846
| {{sortname|Mike|Crapo}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Idaho|Idaho]]
| Former House member (6 years)
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on Finance|Finance]]
|-
! 14
! 1855
| {{sortname|Tom|Carper}}
| rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=3 | Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Delaware|Delaware]]
| rowspan=3 | January 3, 2001
| Former House member (10 years)
| Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Environment]]
|-
! 15
! 1856
| {{sortname|Debbie|Stabenow}}
| [[List of United States senators from Michigan|Michigan]]
| Former House member (4 years)
| Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry|Agriculture]]
|-
! 16
! 1859
| {{sortname|Maria|Cantwell}}{{efn | Maria Cantwell (#16) is the Senate's most senior junior senator.}}
| [[List of United States senators from Washington|Washington]]
| Former House member (2 years)
| Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation|Commerce]]
|-
! 17
! 1867
| {{sortname|John|Cornyn}}
| rowspan=5 style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=5 | Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Texas|Texas]]
| December 2, 2002
| rowspan=3 |
| Ranking Member: [[Senate Narcotics Caucus|Narcotics Caucus]]
|-
! 18
! 1868
| {{sortname|Lisa|Murkowski}}
| [[List of United States senators from Alaska|Alaska]]
| December 20, 2002{{efn | name="Appointment" | The seniority date for an appointed senator is the date of the appointment, not necessarily the date of taking the oath of office. See [[#Determining the beginning of a term|Determining the beginning of a term]], above.}}
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs|Indian Affairs]]
|-
! 19
! 1870
| {{sortname|Lindsey|Graham}}
| [[List of United States senators from South Carolina|South Carolina]]
| January 3, 2003
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on the Budget|Budget]]
|-
! 20
! 1876
| {{sortname|Richard|Burr}}
| [[List of United States senators from North Carolina|North Carolina]]
| rowspan=2 | January 3, 2005
| Former House member (10 years)
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions|HELP]]
|-
! 21
! 1879
| {{sortname|John|Thune}}
| [[List of United States senators from South Dakota|South Dakota]]
| Former House member (6 years)
| [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Minority Whip]]
|-
! 22
! 1885
| {{sortname|Bob|Menendez}}
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from New Jersey|New Jersey]]
| January 17, 2006{{efn | name=Appointment}}
|  
| Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Foreign Relations]]
|-
! 23
! 1886
| {{sortname|Ben|Cardin}}
| [[List of United States senators from Maryland|Maryland]]
| rowspan=7 | January 3, 2007
| Former House member (20 years)
| Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Small Business]]
|-
! 24
! 1887
| {{sortname|Bernie|Sanders}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent (United States)}}" |
| Independent
| [[List of United States senators from Vermont|Vermont]]
| Former House member (16 years)
| Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on the Budget|Budget]]
|-
! 25
! 1888
| {{sortname|Sherrod|Brown}}
| rowspan=5 style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=5 | Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Ohio|Ohio]]
| Former House member (14 years)
| Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs|Banking]]
|-
! 26
! 1890
| {{sortname|Bob|Casey Jr.}}
| [[List of United States senators from Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]]
| Pennsylvania 6th in population ([[2000 United States Census|2000]])
| Chair: [[United States Senate Special Committee on Aging|Aging]]
|-
! 27
! 1893
| {{sortname|Amy|Klobuchar}}
| [[List of United States senators from Minnesota|Minnesota]]
| Minnesota 21st in population (2000)
| Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration|Rules]]
|-
! 28
! 1894
| {{sortname|Sheldon|Whitehouse}}
| [[List of United States senators from Rhode Island|Rhode Island]]
| Rhode Island 43rd in population (2000)
| Chair: [[Senate Narcotics Caucus|Narcotics Caucus]]
|-
! 29
! 1895
| {{sortname|Jon|Tester}}
| [[List of United States senators from Montana|Montana]]
| Montana 44th in population (2000)
| Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Veterans' Affairs]]
|-
! 30
! 1896
| {{sortname|John|Barrasso}}
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Wyoming|Wyoming]]
| June 22, 2007{{efn | name=Appointment}}
| rowspan=2 |
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources|Energy]]
|-
! 31
! 1897
| {{sortname|Roger|Wicker}}
| [[List of United States senators from Mississippi|Mississippi]]
| December 31, 2007{{efn | name=Appointment}}
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation|Commerce]]
|-
! 32
! 1901
| {{sortname|Jeanne|Shaheen}}
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from New Hampshire|New Hampshire]]
| rowspan=4 | January 3, 2009
| Former governor (6 years)
|
|-
! 33
! 1902
| {{sortname|Mark|Warner}}
| [[List of United States senators from Virginia|Virginia]]
| Former governor (4 years)
| Chair: [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Intelligence]]
|-
! 34
! 1903
| {{sortname|Jim|Risch}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Idaho|Idaho]]
| Former governor (7 months)
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Foreign Relations]]
|-
! 35
! 1905
| {{sortname|Jeff|Merkley}}
| rowspan=5 style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=5 | Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Oregon|Oregon]]
| rowspan=3 |
| rowspan=3 |
|-
! 36
! 1909
| {{sortname|Michael|Bennet}}
| [[List of United States senators from Colorado|Colorado]]
| January 21, 2009{{efn | name=Appointment}}
|-
! 37
! 1910
| {{sortname|Kirsten|Gillibrand}}
| [[List of United States senators from New York|New York]]
| January 26, 2009{{efn | name=Appointment}}
|-
! 38
! 1916
| {{sortname|Joe|Manchin}}
| [[List of United States senators from West Virginia|West Virginia]]
| rowspan=2 | November 15, 2010
| Former governor
| Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources|Energy]]
|-
! 39
! 1917
| {{sortname|Chris|Coons}}
| [[List of United States senators from Delaware|Delaware]]
|
| Chair: [[United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics|Ethics]]
|-
! 40
! 1919
| {{sortname|Roy|Blunt}}
| rowspan=9 style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=9 | Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Missouri|Missouri]]
| rowspan=11 | January 3, 2011
| Former House member (14 years); Missouri 17th in population (2000)
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration|Rules]]
|-
! 41
! 1920
| {{sortname|Jerry|Moran}}
| [[List of United States senators from Kansas|Kansas]]
| Former House member (14 years); Kansas 33rd in population (2000)
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Veterans' Affairs]]
|-
! 42
! 1921
| {{sortname|Rob|Portman}}
| [[List of United States senators from Ohio|Ohio]]
| Former House member (12 years)
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Homeland Security]]
|-
! 43
! 1922
| {{sortname|John|Boozman}}
| [[List of United States senators from Arkansas|Arkansas]]
| Former House member (9 years)
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry|Agriculture]]
|-
! 44
! 1923
| {{sortname|Pat|Toomey}}
| [[List of United States senators from Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]]
| Former House member (6 years)
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs|Banking]]
|-
! 45
! 1924
| {{sortname|John|Hoeven}}
| [[List of United States senators from North Dakota|North Dakota]]
| Former governor
|
|-
! 46
! 1925
| {{sortname|Marco|Rubio}}
| [[List of United States senators from Florida|Florida]]
| Florida 4th in population (2000)
| Vice Chair: [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Intelligence]]
|-
! 47
! 1926
| {{sortname|Ron|Johnson|dab=Wisconsin politician}}
| [[List of United States senators from Wisconsin|Wisconsin]]
| Wisconsin 20th in population (2000)
|
|-
! 48
! 1927
| {{sortname|Rand|Paul}}
| [[List of United States senators from Kentucky|Kentucky]]
| Kentucky 25th in population (2000)
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Small Business]]
|-
! 49
! 1928
| {{sortname|Richard|Blumenthal}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Connecticut|Connecticut]]
| Connecticut 29th in population (2000)
| rowspan=2 |
|-
! 50
! 1929
| {{sortname|Mike|Lee|dab=American politician}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Utah|Utah]]
| Utah 34th in population (2000)
|-
! 51
! 1932
| {{sortname|Brian|Schatz}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Hawaii|Hawaii]]
| December 26, 2012{{efn | name=Appointment}}
| rowspan=2 |
| Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs|Indian Affairs]]
|-
! 52
! 1933
| {{sortname|Tim|Scott}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Republican
| [[List of United States senators from South Carolina|South Carolina]]
| January 2, 2013{{efn | name=Appointment}}
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Special Committee on Aging|Aging]]
|-
! 53
! 1934
| {{sortname|Tammy|Baldwin}}
| rowspan=4 style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=4 | Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Wisconsin|Wisconsin]]
| rowspan=9 | January 3, 2013
| Former House member (14 years)
| rowspan=11 |
|-
! 54
! 1937
| {{sortname|Chris|Murphy}}
| [[List of United States senators from Connecticut|Connecticut]]
| Former House member (6 years); Connecticut 29th in population ([[2010 United States Census|2010]])
|-
! 55
! 1938
| {{sortname|Mazie|Hirono}}
| [[List of United States senators from Hawaii|Hawaii]]
| Former House member (6 years); Hawaii 40th in population (2010)
|-
! 56
! 1939
| {{sortname|Martin|Heinrich}}
| [[List of United States senators from New Mexico|New Mexico]]
| Former House member (4 years)
|-
! 57
! 1940
| {{sortname|Angus|King}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent (United States)}}" |
| Independent
| [[List of United States senators from Maine|Maine]]
| Former governor (8 years)
|-
! 58
! 1941
| {{sortname|Tim|Kaine}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Virginia|Virginia]]
| Former governor (4 years)
|-
! 59
! 1942
| {{sortname|Ted|Cruz}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Texas|Texas]]
| Texas 2nd in population (2010)
|-
! 60
! 1943
| {{sortname|Elizabeth|Warren}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Massachusetts|Massachusetts]]
| Massachusetts 14th in population (2010)
|-
! 61
! 1944
| {{sortname|Deb|Fischer}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Nebraska|Nebraska]]
| Nebraska 38th in population (2010)
|-
! 62
! 1948
| {{sortname|Ed|Markey}}
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Massachusetts|Massachusetts]]
| July 16, 2013
| rowspan=2 |
|-
! 63
! 1949
| {{sortname|Cory|Booker}}
| [[List of United States senators from New Jersey|New Jersey]]
| October 31, 2013
|-
! 64
! 1951
| {{sortname|Shelley Moore|Capito}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Republican
| [[List of United States senators from West Virginia|West Virginia]]
| rowspan=11 | January 3, 2015
| Former House member (14 years)
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Environment]]
|-
! 65
! 1952
| {{sortname|Gary|Peters}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Michigan|Michigan]]
| Former House member (6 years); Michigan 8th in population (2010)
| Chair: [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Homeland Security]]
|-
! 66
! 1953
| {{sortname|Bill|Cassidy}}
| rowspan=9 style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=9 | Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Louisiana|Louisiana]]
| Former House member (6 years); Louisiana 25th in population (2010)
|
|-
! 67
! 1955
| {{sortname|James|Lankford}}
| [[List of United States senators from Oklahoma|Oklahoma]]
| Former House member (4 years)
| Ranking Member: [[United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics|Ethics]]
|-
! 68
! 1956
| {{sortname|Tom|Cotton}}
| [[List of United States senators from Arkansas|Arkansas]]
| Former House member (2 years); Arkansas 32nd in population (2010)
| rowspan=33 |
|-
! 69
! 1957
| {{sortname|Steve|Daines}}
| [[List of United States senators from Montana|Montana]]
| Former House member (2 years); Montana 44th in population (2010)
|-
! 70
! 1958
| {{sortname|Mike|Rounds}}
| [[List of United States senators from South Dakota|South Dakota]]
| Former governor
|-
! 71
! 1960
| {{sortname|Thom|Tillis}}
| [[List of United States senators from North Carolina|North Carolina]]
| North Carolina 10th in population (2010)
|-
! 72
! 1961
| {{sortname|Joni|Ernst}}
| [[List of United States senators from Iowa|Iowa]]
| Iowa 30th in population (2010)
|-
! 73
! 1962
| {{sortname|Ben|Sasse}}
| [[List of United States senators from Nebraska|Nebraska]]
| Nebraska 38th in population (2010)
|-
! 74
! 1963
| {{sortname|Dan|Sullivan|dab=U.S. senator}}
| [[List of United States senators from Alaska|Alaska]]
| Alaska 47th in population (2010)
|-
! 75
! 1964
| {{sortname|Chris|Van Hollen}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Maryland|Maryland]]
| rowspan=6 | January 3, 2017
| Former House member (14 years)
|-
! 76
! 1965
| {{sortname|Todd|Young}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Indiana|Indiana]]
| Former House member (6 years)
|-
! 77
! 1966
| {{sortname|Tammy|Duckworth}}
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Illinois|Illinois]]
| Former House member (4 years)
|-
! 78
! 1967
| {{sortname|Maggie|Hassan}}
| [[List of United States senators from New Hampshire|New Hampshire]]
| Former governor
|-
! 79
! 1969
| {{sortname|John|Kennedy|John Kennedy (Louisiana politician)}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Louisiana|Louisiana]]
| Louisiana 25th in population (2010)
|-
! 80
! 1970
| {{sortname|Catherine|Cortez Masto}}
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Nevada|Nevada]]
| Nevada 35th in population (2010)
|-
! 81
! 1972
| {{sortname|Tina|Smith}}
| [[List of United States senators from Minnesota|Minnesota]]
| January 3, 2018{{efn | name=Appointment}}
| rowspan=2 |
|-
! 82
! 1974
| {{sortname|Cindy|Hyde-Smith}}
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Mississippi|Mississippi]]
| April 2, 2018{{efn | name=Appointment}}
|-
! 83
! 1975
| {{sortname|Marsha|Blackburn}}
| [[List of United States senators from Tennessee|Tennessee]]
| rowspan=7 | January 3, 2019
| Former House member (16 years)
|-
! 84
! 1976
| {{sortname|Kyrsten|Sinema}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Arizona|Arizona]]
| Former House member (6 years); Arizona 16th in population (2010)
|-
! 85
! 1977
| {{sortname|Kevin|Cramer}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Republican
| [[List of United States senators from North Dakota|North Dakota]]
| Former House member (6 years); North Dakota 48th in population (2010)
|-
! 86
! 1979
| {{sortname|Jacky|Rosen}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Nevada|Nevada]]
| Former House member (2 years)
|-
! 87
! 1980
| {{sortname|Mitt|Romney}}
| rowspan=4 style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=4 | Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Utah|Utah]]
| Former governor
|-
! 88
! 1981
| {{sortname|Mike|Braun}}
| [[List of United States senators from Indiana|Indiana]]
| Indiana 15th in population (2010)
|-
! 89
! 1982
| {{sortname|Josh|Hawley}}
| [[List of United States senators from Missouri|Missouri]]
| Missouri 18th in population (2010)
|-
! 90
! 1983
| {{sortname|Rick|Scott}}
| [[List of United States senators from Florida|Florida]]
| January 8, 2019
| rowspan=2 |
|-
! 91
! 1985
| {{sortname|Mark|Kelly}}
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Arizona|Arizona]]
| December 2, 2020
|-
! 92
! 1986
| {{sortname|Ben Ray|Luján}}
| [[List of United States senators from New Mexico|New Mexico]]
| rowspan=6 | January 3, 2021
| Former House member (12 years)
|-
! 93
! 1987
| {{sortname|Cynthia|Lummis}}
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Wyoming|Wyoming]]
| Former House member (8 years)
|-
! 94
! 1988
| {{sortname|Roger|Marshall|dab=politician}}
| [[List of United States senators from Kansas|Kansas]]
| Former House member (4 years)
|-
! 95
! 1989
| {{sortname|John|Hickenlooper}}
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from Colorado|Colorado]]
| Former governor
|-
! 96
! 1990
| {{sortname|Bill|Hagerty}}
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | Republican
| [[List of United States senators from Tennessee|Tennessee]]
| Tennessee 17th in population (2010)
|-
! 97
! 1991
| {{sortname|Tommy|Tuberville}}
| [[List of United States senators from Alabama|Alabama]]
| Alabama 23rd in population (2010)
|-
! 98
! 1992
| {{sortname|Alex|Padilla}}
| rowspan=3 style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| rowspan=3 | Democratic
| [[List of United States senators from California|California]]
| January 18, 2021{{efn | name=Appointment}}
|
|-
! 99
! 1993
| {{sortname|Jon|Ossoff}}{{efn | Jon Ossoff (#99) is the Senate's most junior senior senator.}}
| rowspan=2 | [[List of United States senators from Georgia|Georgia]]
| rowspan=2 | January 20, 2021
| 'O' 15th letter of the alphabet
|-
! 100
! 1994
| {{sortname|Raphael|Warnock}}
| 'W' 23rd letter of the alphabet
|- valign=top
! Rank
! Historical rank{{Efn|name=rank}}<ref name=chronolist/>
! Senator
! colspan=2 | Party
! State
! Seniority date
! Other factors
! Committee and leadership positions
|}

==See also==
*[[List of current United States senators]]
*[[List of current United States Senate committees]]
*[[Seniority in the United States House of Representatives]]
*[[List of members of the United States Congress by longevity of service]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{United States senators by seniority|state=expanded}}
{{United States Congress}}

[[Category:Lists of United States senators by seniority| ]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Seniority in the United States Senate