The Washington State senator, fresh off a 15-point reelection win is ready to move up to No. 3 in the presidential line of succession. Patty Murray will step down from her role as assistant Democratic leader as she prepares to take over the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and enter the presidential line of succession. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) was technically next in line for the pro tempore job, but she passed it up.
U.S. Senator Murray will be writing the nation’s spending bills and assuming the job of president pro tempore, the constitutionally afforded title given to the majority party’s longest-serving senator. Senate Majority Leader Schumer chooses much of the Democratic leadership team. However, there has been no decision on whether he would fill the vacant assistant leader slot or make another change.
At a caucus’ last week during a luncheon, Schumer said he will nominate Murray to be president pro tempore, replacing the retiring Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). The Senate pro tem position also comes with a large security detail and prime office space on the first floor of the
There is an order of succession. In the current hierarchy, Sen. Debbie Stabenow is the No. 4 Democratic leader as chair of the party’s policy and communications committee. She also chairs the Agriculture Committee.
Murray was elevated to her role as assistant Democratic leader at the end of 2016. Murray and expected ranking member Susan Collins (R-Maine) will be in charge of directing hundreds of billions of dollars on an annual basis next Congress along with their House counterparts, Reps. Kay Granger (R-Texas) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.).
