United States Senate Majority Whip - Definition and Overview

The U.S. Senate Majority Whip is the second ranking member of the United States Senate.

The main function of the Majority (and Minority) Whip is to gather votes on major issues. Because they are the second ranking member of the Senate, if there is no floor leader present, they may become acting floor leader.

The current Senate Majority Whip is Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Majority Whips, 1913-present

• J. Hamilton Lewis (D-IL) 1913-1919
• Charles Curtis (R-KS) 1919-1924
• Wesley L. Jones (R-WA) 1924-1929
• Simeon D. Fess (R-OH)l1929-1933
• J. Hamilton Lewis (D-IL) 1933-1939
• Lister Hill (D-AL) 1941-1947
• Kenneth S. Wherry (R-NE) 1947-1949
• Francis J. Myers (D-PA) 1949-1951
• Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX) 1951-1953
• Leverett Saltonstall (R-MA) 1953-1955
• Earle C. Clements (D-KY) 1955-1957
• Michael J. Mansfield (D-MT) 1957-1961
• Hubert H. Humphrey (D-MN) 1961-1965
• Russell B. Long (D-LA) 1965-1969
• Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) 1969-1971
• Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) 1971-1977
• Alan Cranston (D-CA) 1977-1981
• Ted Stevens (R-AK) 1981-1985
• Alan K. Simpson (R-WY) 1985-1987
• Alan Cranston (D-CA) 1987-1991
• Wendell Ford (D-KY) 1991-1995
• Trent Lott (R-MS) 1995-1996
• Don Nickles (R-OK) 1996-2001
• Harry Reid (D-NV) 2001
• Don Nickles (R-OK) 2001
• Harry Reid (D-NV) 2001-2003
• Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 2003-