Democratic Leadership in the 110th Congress

Starting in January, Democrats will lead both houses of the Federal legislature for the first time since 1994. Back in '94, the leadership was headlined by Tom Foley, Dick Gephardt and George Mitchell (Wikipedia). In 2007, the only notable position that will return to its 1994 holder is President Pro Tempore, which Robert Byrd has help whenever Democrats are in the majority since 1989.

Senate arcana aside, who will be running things in 2007?

In the House, Nancy Pelosi (CA) will be speaker - the first woman to hold the office. Pelosi's San Francisco district has never given her less than 76% of the vote, and her record is uniformally liberal. She is a millionaire, has five children, and a politically powerful family background.

Second-in-command in the House is up for grabs. The heir-apparent, Steny Hoyer (MD) will be challenged by outspoken John Murtha (PA) for Majority Leader. Majority Whip will likely go to Jim Clyburn (SC), unless Hoyer fails to move up and keeps the post.

The likely committee chairs are Democrats John Conyers (MI, Judiciary), David Obey (WI; Appropriations), Chuck Rangel (NY, Appropriations), Bennie Thompson (MS, Homeland Security), John Spratt (SC, Budget), Ike Skelton (MO, Armed Services), Louise Slaughter (Rochester NY, Rules), Harry Waxman (CA, Government Reform), Barney Frank (MA, Financial Services), Alcee Hastings (FL, Intelligence) John Dingell (MI, Energy and Commerce) among others. (Sources: OpenSecrets and WaPo chairman profiles). Most of these are staunch liberals, with a large contingent from the Congressional Black Caucus. No women or Hispanics are in line for top committees; the Democrats may attempt to address this before January. A few - such as Dingell and Spratt - are more moderate, "good-old-boy" politicians.

On the other side of the Capitol, Reid (NV) is set to hold sway as majority leader, but many Democrats want a leader who is more incisive and important, such as Hillary Clinton (NY). The Democratic Whip will likely remain Dick Durbin (IL), and important committee chairmen will include John D. Rockefeller IV (WV, Intelligence), Max Baucus (MT, Finance), Kent Conrad (ND, Budget), Ted Kennedy (MA, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions), Patrick Leahy (VT, Judiciary), Robert Byrd (WV, Appropriations), Joe Biden (DE, Foreign Relations), Joe Lieberman (CT, Homeland Security and Government Affairs), Carl Levin (MI, Armed Services). Clearly, this group is more moderate, fulfilling the Founders' design for the upper house.

For the first few months, expect U.S.S. Democrat to run smoothly and swiftly; a backlog of a dozen years' common goals will lead to popular legislation, such as the minimum wage hike (more on that later) and a Medicare drug benefit. Stickier issues, however, will reveal the fissures in the broad Democratic coalition. Expect contention over education reform, free trade, tax hikes, tax code reform, energy policy, pork, and above all how to deal with an unfriendly administration. Legislators who earned their political capital in the minority by hectoring the administration will lose credibility with the base if they fail to fight Bush with all their newfound power; equally, however, they will lose credibility with independent voters if that's all they do.