The Democratic Party’s leaders sit atop four separate institutions. In Congress, House Democrats are led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, and Senate Democrats are led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, also of New York. The Democratic National Committee is chaired by Ken Martin, elected in February 2025. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear chairs the Democratic Governors Association. With the party holding neither the White House nor a congressional majority in the 119th Congress, these four are the current leaders of the Democratic Party, each with a team of officers below them.
House Democratic Leadership
Hakeem Jeffries is the most senior House Democrat. He sets the caucus’s agenda, message, and strategy, and appoints members to task forces and statutory commissions.1Congressional Institute. House Democratic Leadership Positions Jeffries took the role at the start of the 118th Congress in January 2023, succeeding Nancy Pelosi, and was the first Black American to lead a party caucus in either chamber.
The rest of the elected team:
- Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, Minority Whip, responsible for building support among members and counting votes. Clark was first elected whip in fall 2022.2U.S. House Press Gallery. Leadership3Office of the Democratic Whip. Democratic Whip Katherine Clark
- Pete Aguilar of California, Democratic Caucus Chair.
- Ted Lieu of California, Caucus Vice Chair.
- Joe Neguse of Colorado, Assistant Democratic Leader, elected in March 2024 after succeeding Jim Clyburn.4Office of Rep. Joe Neguse. Rep. Joe Neguse Elected Assistant Democratic Leader
- Suzan DelBene of Washington, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the House campaign arm.5Roll Call. House Democrats Target List Midterm Elections
Jeffries, Clark, and Aguilar are sometimes called the “New Three,” a reference to the generational transition from the Pelosi era.6Punchbowl News. Neguse Assistant Minority Leader Interview
Under Jeffries, House Democrats have organized their message around lowering the cost of living, defending health care programs, and opposing what the caucus calls corruption in the Republican majority.7Office of the Democratic Leader. Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries His most visible act of opposition came on July 3, 2025, when he delivered an eight-hour, 44-minute floor speech to delay passage of a Republican tax and spending bill, using the “magic minute” procedure that grants party leaders unlimited speaking time. It was the longest floor speech in House history, surpassing Kevin McCarthy’s 2021 record; Jeffries read letters from constituents about proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.8NBC News. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries Blasts Republicans The bill passed later that day.
Clark has led caucus efforts on health care in the 119th Congress, including a discharge petition that gathered 218 signatures to force a vote on extending Affordable Care Act tax credits.9Office of Rep. Katherine Clark. Press Releases
Senate Democratic Leadership
Chuck Schumer has led Senate Democrats since 2017. With Republicans in control of the chamber in the 119th Congress, he holds the title of Minority Leader and also chairs the Democratic Conference.10U.S. Senate. Leadership His leadership team:
- Richard Durbin of Illinois, Democratic Whip.
- Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Chair of the Steering and Policy Committee.
- Cory Booker of New Jersey, Chair of the Strategic Communications Committee.
- Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Conference Secretary.
- Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Mark Warner of Virginia, Vice Chairs of the Conference.10U.S. Senate. Leadership
- Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, appointed by Schumer to chair the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for the 2026 cycle, taking the role in January 2025.11DSCC. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand To Chair DSCC for 2026 Cycle
Schumer’s tenure has drawn internal criticism. After his March 2025 vote for a Republican government funding bill, progressive groups and some House Democrats called on him to step down. He retains the support of the senators who elected him, though his favorability has trended down, including in New York.12Politico. Chuck Schumer Redemption Senate
The largest test of his leadership came in fall 2025, when Senate Democrats blocked short-term funding bills to force an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies and a reversal of Medicaid cuts. By October 16, 2025, the 16th day of a government shutdown, Senate Democrats had rejected stopgap bills ten times, each falling short of the 60-vote filibuster threshold. Schumer said Democrats would not reopen the government without a serious commitment on ACA premiums for roughly 24 million people using subsidized marketplace insurance.13Federal News Network. Senate Democrats Holding Out for Health Care
Schumer has been active in Senate recruitment for 2026, intervening in primaries and targeting pickup opportunities in Alaska, Maine, North Carolina, and Ohio.14The New York Times. Chuck Schumer Senate Map Democrats
Democratic National Committee
Ken Martin, previously the longtime chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, was elected DNC Chair on February 1, 2025, at the DNC Winter Meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. He won with 246.5 votes out of 428 voting members present, defeating Ben Wikler (134.5 votes) and Martin O’Malley (44 votes).15NPR. Democrats DNC Chair Elections He ran as a grassroots reformer and has described his primary job as winning elections.16Democrats. A Message From DNC Chair Ken Martin
Other DNC officers are Vice Chair and Association of State Democratic Committees President Jane Kleeb, Secretary Jason Rae, Treasurer Virginia McGregor, and National Finance Chair Chris Korge.17Democrats. Leadership DNC rules require that officers be “as equally divided as practicable according to gender.”15NPR. Democrats DNC Chair Elections
Martin’s signature initiative is the “Organize Everywhere, Win Anywhere” strategy, a four-year agreement announced in April 2025 with Kleeb. Under it, each of the 57 Democratic state and territorial parties receives a baseline of $17,500 per month, a $5,000 increase from the previous agreement, and parties in Republican-controlled states get an additional $5,000 monthly from a dedicated “Red State Fund.” The plan moves state party support from about 8% of the DNC budget to over 20%.18Democrats. DNC ASDC Unveil Organize Everywhere Win Anywhere Strategy Martin has also authored superdelegate reforms, put primary neutrality policies in place, and established a reform task force aimed at banning dark money in presidential nominating processes.16Democrats. A Message From DNC Chair Ken Martin
Democratic Governors
Democrats hold 24 governorships heading into 2026. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear assumed the chairmanship of the Democratic Governors Association in December 2025, with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as Vice Chair.19Democratic Governors Association. Democratic Governors Have Unified Focus on Affordability
Beshear has built the DGA’s 2026 strategy around affordability, naming housing, child care, utilities, and groceries, and has pledged to compete in states where Democrats have historically struggled, including Iowa, Georgia, and Nevada. He has urged Democratic gubernatorial candidates to go on the offensive against federal spending cuts, saying they should “stand in front of the clinic that is closed” to make the consequences tangible.20Spectrum News 1. Andy Beshear With 36 gubernatorial races on the November 2026 ballot, Beshear has predicted Democrats will hold a majority of the 50 governorships by year’s end.19Democratic Governors Association. Democratic Governors Have Unified Focus on Affordability
How These Leaders Are Chosen
House Democratic leaders are elected by the caucus at organizational meetings before each new Congress. Under caucus rules for the 119th Congress, elections require a quorum of a majority of members and use a secret ballot unless waived. When more than two candidates run, the lowest vote-getter is eliminated each round until someone reaches a majority. Caucus Chair and Vice Chair are limited to two consecutive full terms; Leader and Whip carry no formal term limits.21House Democrats. Rules of the Democratic Caucus, 119th Congress
Senate Democratic officers are selected by the Democratic Conference alone, with no Senate-wide vote. Elections happen no earlier than December before a new Congress, or when a vacancy opens; contested races are decided by secret ballot.22Senate Democrats. Rules for the Democratic Conference The Democratic Leader also serves as Conference Chair.
DNC officers, chair included, are elected by the committee’s 448 voting members. That body includes state party chairs and vice chairs, national committee members from every state and territory, heads of affiliated groups such as the Young Democrats of America, and at-large members including union leaders and party figures.15NPR. Democrats DNC Chair Elections
Governors are not chosen by any national party body. The DGA chair is selected by member governors themselves, and each governor holds office by winning a state election.