Black Americans in Party Leadership Positions
A listing of individuals in caucus and conference positions based on research conducted by the Congressional Research Service.
| Congress | Name | Caucus/Conference | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95th (1977–1979) | |||
| 95th (1977–1979) | CHISHOLM, Shirley Anita | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 96th (1979–1981) | |||
| 96th (1979–1981) | CHISHOLM, Shirley Anita | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 101st (1989–1991) | |||
| 101st (1989–1991) | GRAY, William Herbert, III | Democratic Caucus | Chair |
| 101st (1989–1991) | GRAY, William Herbert, III | Democratic Caucus | Majority Whip |
| 102nd (1991–1993) | |||
| 102nd (1991–1993) | GRAY, William Herbert, III | Democratic Caucus | Majority Whip |
| 102nd (1991–1993) | LEWIS, John R. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 103rd (1993–1995) | |||
| 103rd (1993–1995) | LEWIS, John R. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 104th (1995–1997) | |||
| 104th (1995–1997) | LEWIS, John R. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 105th (1997–1999) | |||
| 105th (1997–1999) | LEWIS, John R. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 106th (1999–2001) | |||
| 106th (1999–2001) | LEWIS, John R. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 106th (1999–2001) | WATERS, Maxine | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 106th (1999–2001) | WATTS, Julius Caesar, Jr. (J. C.) | Republican Conference | Chair |
| 107th (2001–2003) | |||
| 107th (2001–2003) | LEWIS, John R. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 107th (2001–2003) | WATERS, Maxine | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 107th (2001–2003) | WATTS, Julius Caesar, Jr. (J. C.) | Republican Conference | Chair |
| 108th (2003–2005) | |||
| 108th (2003–2005) | CLYBURN, James Enos | Democratic Caucus | Vice Chair |
| 108th (2003–2005) | LEWIS, John R. | Democratic Caucus | Senior Chief Deputy Whip |
| 108th (2003–2005) | WATERS, Maxine | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 109th (2005–2007) | |||
| 109th (2005–2007) | CLYBURN, James Enos | Democratic Caucus | Vice Chair |
| 109th (2005–2007) | CLYBURN, James Enos | Democratic Caucus | Chair |
| 109th (2005–2007) | LEWIS, John R. | Democratic Caucus | Senior Chief Deputy Whip |
| 109th (2005–2007) | WATERS, Maxine | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 110th (2007–2009) | |||
| 110th (2007–2009) | BUTTERFIELD, George Kenneth (G.K.), Jr. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 110th (2007–2009) | CLYBURN, James Enos | Democratic Caucus | Majority Whip |
| 110th (2007–2009) | LEWIS, John R. | Democratic Caucus | Senior Chief Deputy Whip |
| 110th (2007–2009) | WATERS, Maxine | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 111th (2009–2011) | |||
| 111th (2009–2011) | BUTTERFIELD, George Kenneth (G.K.), Jr. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 111th (2009–2011) | CLYBURN, James Enos | Democratic Caucus | Majority Whip |
| 111th (2009–2011) | LEWIS, John R. | Democratic Caucus | Senior Chief Deputy Whip |
| 111th (2009–2011) | WATERS, Maxine | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 112th (2011–2013) | |||
| 112th (2011–2013) | BUTTERFIELD, George Kenneth (G.K.), Jr. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 112th (2011–2013) | CLYBURN, James Enos | Democratic Caucus | Assistant Leader |
| 112th (2011–2013) | LEWIS, John R. | Democratic Caucus | Senior Chief Deputy Whip |
| 112th (2011–2013) | WATERS, Maxine | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 113th (2013–2015) | |||
| 113th (2013–2015) | BUTTERFIELD, George Kenneth (G.K.), Jr. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 113th (2013–2015) | CLYBURN, James Enos | Democratic Caucus | Assistant Leader |
| 113th (2013–2015) | ELLISON, Keith | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 113th (2013–2015) | LEWIS, John R. | Democratic Caucus | Senior Chief Deputy Whip |
| 113th (2013–2015) | SEWELL, Terri | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 114th (2015–2017) | |||
| 114th (2015–2017) | BUTTERFIELD, George Kenneth (G.K.), Jr. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 114th (2015–2017) | CLYBURN, James Enos | Democratic Caucus | Assistant Leader |
| 114th (2015–2017) | ELLISON, Keith | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 114th (2015–2017) | LEWIS, John R. | Democratic Caucus | Senior Chief Deputy Whip |
| 114th (2015–2017) | SEWELL, Terri | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 115th (2017–2019) | |||
| 115th (2017–2019) | BUTTERFIELD, George Kenneth (G.K.), Jr. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 115th (2017–2019) | CLYBURN, James Enos | Democratic Caucus | Assistant Leader |
| 115th (2017–2019) | ELLISON, Keith | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 115th (2017–2019) | LEWIS, John R. | Democratic Caucus | Senior Chief Deputy Whip |
| 115th (2017–2019) | SEWELL, Terri | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 116th (2019–2021) | |||
| 116th (2019–2021) | BUTTERFIELD, George Kenneth (G.K.), Jr. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 116th (2019–2021) | CLYBURN, James Enos | Democratic Caucus | Majority Whip |
| 116th (2019–2021) | JACKSON LEE, Sheila | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 116th (2019–2021) | JEFFRIES, Hakeem | Democratic Caucus | Chair |
| 116th (2019–2021) | LEWIS, John R. | Democratic Caucus | Senior Chief Deputy Whip |
| 116th (2019–2021) | SEWELL, Terri | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 117th (2021–2023) | |||
| 117th (2021–2023) | BUTTERFIELD, George Kenneth (G.K.), Jr. | Democratic Caucus | Senior Chief Deputy Whip |
| 117th (2021–2023) | CLYBURN, James Enos | Democratic Caucus | Majority Whip |
| 117th (2021–2023) | JACKSON LEE, Sheila | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 117th (2021–2023) | JEFFRIES, Hakeem | Democratic Caucus | Chair |
| 117th (2021–2023) | SEWELL, Terri | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 118th (2023–2025) | |||
| 118th (2023–2025) | ALLRED, Colin | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 118th (2023–2025) | CLYBURN, James Enos 1 | Democratic Caucus | Assistant Leader |
| 118th (2023–2025) | HORSFORD, Steven | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 118th (2023–2025) | JACKSON LEE, Sheila | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 118th (2023–2025) | JEFFRIES, Hakeem | Democratic Caucus | Leader |
| 118th (2023–2025) | NEGUSE, Joseph 2 | Democratic Caucus | Assistant Leader |
| 118th (2023–2025) | SEWELL, Terri | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 118th (2023–2025) | STRICKLAND, Marilyn | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 119th (2025–2027) | |||
| 119th (2025–2027) | HORSFORD, Steven | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 119th (2025–2027) | JEFFRIES, Hakeem | Democratic Caucus | Leader |
| 119th (2025–2027) | NEGUSE, Joseph | Democratic Caucus | Assistant Leader |
| 119th (2025–2027) | SEWELL, Terri | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 119th (2025–2027) | STRICKLAND, Marilyn | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
Footnotes
1Announced his intention to step down as Assistant Leader on February 14, 2024.
2Elected Assistant Leader on March 20, 2024, to fill the vacancy caused by resignation from leadership of James Enos Clyburn.