Women in Party Leadership Positions, 1949–Present
More than three dozen women in congressional history have been elected by their peers into the Democratic and Republican Party leadership. The first was Connecticut Representative Chase Going Woodhouse, who served a single term as Secretary of the Democratic Caucus in the 81st Congress (1949–1951). Illinois Representative Lynn Martin became the first Republican woman elected to a House leadership position when she won the vice chair post in the Republican Conference in the 99th–100th Congresses (1985–1989). The first woman elected to a Senate leadership position was Margaret Chase Smith of Maine, who chaired the Senate Republican Conference in the 90th—92nd Congresses (1967–1973). California Representative Nancy Pelosi is the highest-ranking woman in congressional history—having served as House Democratic Whip and House Democratic Leader, prior to being elected Speaker of the House in 2007.
| Congress | Name | Caucus/Conference | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81st (1949–1951) | |||
| 81st (1949–1951) | WOODHOUSE, Chase Going | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 83rd (1953–1955) | |||
| 83rd (1953–1955) | KELLY, Edna Flannery | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 84th (1955–1957) | |||
| 84th (1955–1957) | KELLY, Edna Flannery | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 86th (1959–1961) | |||
| 86th (1959–1961) | SULLIVAN, Leonor Kretzer | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 87th (1961–1963) | |||
| 87th (1961–1963) | SULLIVAN, Leonor Kretzer | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 88th (1963–1965) | |||
| 88th (1963–1965) | KELLY, Edna Flannery 1 | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 88th (1963–1965) | SULLIVAN, Leonor Kretzer | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 89th (1965–1967) | |||
| 89th (1965–1967) | SULLIVAN, Leonor Kretzer | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 90th (1967–1969) | |||
| 90th (1967–1969) | SMITH, Margaret Chase | Senate Republican Conference | Chair |
| 90th (1967–1969) | SULLIVAN, Leonor Kretzer | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 91st (1969–1971) | |||
| 91st (1969–1971) | SMITH, Margaret Chase | Senate Republican Conference | Chair |
| 91st (1969–1971) | SULLIVAN, Leonor Kretzer | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 92nd (1971–1973) | |||
| 92nd (1971–1973) | SMITH, Margaret Chase | Republican Conference | Chair |
| 92nd (1971–1973) | SULLIVAN, Leonor Kretzer | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 93rd (1973–1975) | |||
| 93rd (1973–1975) | SULLIVAN, Leonor Kretzer | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 94th (1975–1977) | |||
| 94th (1975–1977) | MINK, Patsy Takemoto | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 95th (1977–1979) | |||
| 95th (1977–1979) | CHISHOLM, Shirley Anita | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 96th (1979–1981) | |||
| 96th (1979–1981) | CHISHOLM, Shirley Anita | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 97th (1981–1983) | |||
| 97th (1981–1983) | FERRARO, Geraldine Anne | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 98th (1983–1985) | |||
| 98th (1983–1985) | FERRARO, Geraldine Anne | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 99th (1985–1987) | |||
| 99th (1985–1987) | MARTIN, Lynn Morley | Republican Conference | Vice Chair |
| 99th (1985–1987) | OAKAR, Mary Rose | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 100th (1987–1989) | |||
| 100th (1987–1989) | MARTIN, Lynn Morley | Republican Conference | Vice Chair |
| 100th (1987–1989) | OAKAR, Mary Rose | Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 102nd (1991–1993) | |||
| 102nd (1991–1993) | KENNELLY, Barbara Bailey | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 103rd (1993–1995) | |||
| 103rd (1993–1995) | KENNELLY, Barbara Bailey | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 104th (1995–1997) | |||
| 104th (1995–1997) | KENNELLY, Barbara Bailey | Democratic Caucus | Vice Chair |
| 104th (1995–1997) | MIKULSKI, Barbara Ann | Senate Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 104th (1995–1997) | MOLINARI, Susan | Republican Conference | Vice Chair |
| 104th (1995–1997) | VUCANOVICH, Barbara Farrell | Republican Conference | Secretary |
| 105th (1997–1999) | |||
| 105th (1997–1999) | DUNN, Jennifer Blackburn | Republican Conference | Vice Chair |
| 105th (1997–1999) | DUNN, Jennifer Blackburn | Republican Conference | Secretary |
| 105th (1997–1999) | KENNELLY, Barbara Bailey | Democratic Caucus | Vice Chair |
| 105th (1997–1999) | MIKULSKI, Barbara Ann | Senate Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 105th (1997–1999) | MOLINARI, Susan | Republican Conference | Vice Chair |
| 105th (1997–1999) | SNOWE, Olympia Jean | Senate Republican Conference | Secretary |
| 106th (1999–2001) | |||
| 106th (1999–2001) | FOWLER, Tillie Kidd | Republican Conference | Vice Chair |
| 106th (1999–2001) | MIKULSKI, Barbara Ann | Senate Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 106th (1999–2001) | PRYCE, Deborah D. | Republican Conference | Secretary |
| 106th (1999–2001) | SNOWE, Olympia Jean | Senate Republican Conference | Secretary |
| 106th (1999–2001) | WATERS, Maxine | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 107th (2001–2003) | |||
| 107th (2001–2003) | CUBIN, Barbara L. | Republican Conference | Secretary |
| 107th (2001–2003) | HUTCHISON, Kathryn Ann Bailey (Kay) | Senate Republican Conference | Vice Chair |
| 107th (2001–2003) | MIKULSKI, Barbara Ann | Senate Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 107th (2001–2003) | PELOSI, Nancy | Democratic Caucus | Whip |
| 107th (2001–2003) | PRYCE, Deborah D. | Republican Conference | Vice Chair |
| 107th (2001–2003) | WATERS, Maxine | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 108th (2003–2005) | |||
| 108th (2003–2005) | HUTCHISON, Kathryn Ann Bailey (Kay) | Senate Republican Conference | Vice Chair |
| 108th (2003–2005) | MIKULSKI, Barbara Ann | Senate Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 108th (2003–2005) | PELOSI, Nancy | Democratic Caucus | Leader |
| 108th (2003–2005) | PRYCE, Deborah D. | Republican Conference | Chair |
| 108th (2003–2005) | WATERS, Maxine | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 109th (2005–2007) | |||
| 109th (2005–2007) | HUTCHISON, Kathryn Ann Bailey (Kay) | Senate Republican Conference | Vice Chair |
| 109th (2005–2007) | PELOSI, Nancy | Democratic Caucus | Leader |
| 109th (2005–2007) | PRYCE, Deborah D. | Republican Conference | Chair |
| 109th (2005–2007) | STABENOW, Deborah Ann | Senate Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 109th (2005–2007) | WATERS, Maxine | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 110th (2007–2009) | |||
| 110th (2007–2009) | GRANGER, Kay | Republican Conference | Vice Chair |
| 110th (2007–2009) | HUTCHISON, Kathryn Ann Bailey (Kay) | Senate Republican Conference | Policy Committee Chairwoman |
| 110th (2007–2009) | MURRAY, Patty | Senate Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 110th (2007–2009) | PELOSI, Nancy | U.S. House of Representatives | Speaker of the House |
| 110th (2007–2009) | WATERS, Maxine | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 111th (2009–2011) | |||
| 111th (2009–2011) | MCMORRIS RODGERS, Cathy | Republican Conference | Vice Chair |
| 111th (2009–2011) | MURKOWSKI, Lisa | Senate Republican Conference | Vice Chair |
| 111th (2009–2011) | MURRAY, Patty | Senate Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 111th (2009–2011) | PELOSI, Nancy | U.S. House of Representatives | Speaker of the House |
| 112th (2011–2013) | |||
| 112th (2011–2013) | DEGETTE, Diana | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 112th (2011–2013) | MCMORRIS RODGERS, Cathy | Republican Conference | Vice Chair |
| 112th (2011–2013) | MURRAY, Patty | Senate Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 112th (2011–2013) | PELOSI, Nancy | Democratic Caucus | Leader |
| 112th (2011–2013) | SCHAKOWSKY, Janice D. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 112th (2011–2013) | WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Debbie | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 112th (2011–2013) | WATERS, Maxine | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 113th (2013–2015) | |||
| 113th (2013–2015) | DEGETTE, Diana | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 113th (2013–2015) | FOXX, Virginia Ann | Republican Conference | Secretary |
| 113th (2013–2015) | JENKINS, Lynn | Republican Conference | Vice Chair |
| 113th (2013–2015) | MCMORRIS RODGERS, Cathy | Republican Conference | Chair |
| 113th (2013–2015) | MURRAY, Patty | Senate Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 113th (2013–2015) | PELOSI, Nancy | Democratic Caucus | Leader |
| 113th (2013–2015) | SCHAKOWSKY, Janice D. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 113th (2013–2015) | SEWELL, Terri | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 113th (2013–2015) | WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Debbie | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 114th (2015–2017) | |||
| 114th (2015–2017) | DEGETTE, Diana | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 114th (2015–2017) | FOXX, Virginia Ann | Republican Conference | Secretary |
| 114th (2015–2017) | JENKINS, Lynn | Republican Conference | Vice Chair |
| 114th (2015–2017) | MCMORRIS RODGERS, Cathy | Republican Conference | Chair |
| 114th (2015–2017) | MURRAY, Patty | Senate Democratic Caucus | Secretary |
| 114th (2015–2017) | PELOSI, Nancy | Democratic Caucus | Leader |
| 114th (2015–2017) | SCHAKOWSKY, Janice D. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 114th (2015–2017) | SEWELL, Terri | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 114th (2015–2017) | SINEMA, Kyrsten | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 114th (2015–2017) | WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Debbie | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 115th (2017–2019) | |||
| 115th (2017–2019) | DEGETTE, Diana | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 115th (2017–2019) | MCMORRIS RODGERS, Cathy | Republican Conference | Chair |
| 115th (2017–2019) | PELOSI, Nancy | Democratic Caucus | Leader |
| 115th (2017–2019) | SÁNCHEZ, Linda T. | Democratic Caucus | Vice Chair |
| 115th (2017–2019) | SCHAKOWSKY, Janice D. | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 115th (2017–2019) | SEWELL, Terri | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 115th (2017–2019) | SINEMA, Kyrsten | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
| 115th (2017–2019) | WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Debbie | Democratic Caucus | Chief Deputy Whip |
Footnotes
1Kelly and Sullivan shared the Secretary post during the 88th Congress, with Kelly serving in the second session.