Historical Highlight
Fast Facts
Representative Sereno Payne of New York was the first House Majority Leader, elected to the position in 1899.
More >Related Collection Object
Majority Leaders of the House (1899 to present)
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Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives About this object Sereno Payne of New York chaired the Ways and Means Committee before becoming the House's first Majority Leader.
The role of the majority leader has been defined by history and tradition. This officer is charged with scheduling legislation for floor consideration; planning the daily, weekly, and annual legislative agendas; consulting with Members to gauge party sentiment; and, generally working to advance the goals of the majority party. Information on the current activities of the majority leader is available from The Office of the Majority Leader's web site.
| Congress and Years | Name | Party | State or Territory |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56th (1899–1901) | PAYNE, Sereno Elisha | Republican | NY |
| 57th (1901–1903) | PAYNE, Sereno Elisha | Republican | NY |
| 58th (1903–1905) | PAYNE, Sereno Elisha | Republican | NY |
| 59th (1905–1907) | PAYNE, Sereno Elisha | Republican | NY |
| 60th (1907–1909) | PAYNE, Sereno Elisha | Republican | NY |
| 61st (1909–1911) | PAYNE, Sereno Elisha | Republican | NY |
| 62nd (1911–1913) | UNDERWOOD, Oscar Wilder | Democrat | AL |
| 63rd (1913–1915) | UNDERWOOD, Oscar Wilder | Democrat | AL |
| 64th (1915–1917) | KITCHIN, Claude | Democrat | NC |
| 65th (1917–1919) | KITCHIN, Claude | Democrat | NC |
| 66th (1919–1921) | MONDELL, Frank Wheeler | Republican | WY |
| 67th (1921–1923) | MONDELL, Frank Wheeler | Republican | WY |
| 68th (1923–1925) | LONGWORTH, Nicholas | Republican | OH |
| 69th (1925–1927) | TILSON, John Quillin | Republican | CT |
| 70th (1927–1929) | TILSON, John Quillin | Republican | CT |
| 71st (1929–1931) | TILSON, John Quillin | Republican | CT |
| 72nd (1931–1933) | RAINEY, Henry Thomas | Democrat | IL |
| 73rd (1933–1935) | BYRNS, Joseph Wellington | Democrat | TN |
| 74th (1935–1937) | BANKHEAD, William Brockman 1 | Democrat | AL |
| 75th (1937–1939) | RAYBURN, Samuel Taliaferro | Democrat | TX |
| 76th (1939–1941) | RAYBURN, Samuel Taliaferro 2 | Democrat | TX |
| 76th (1939–1941) | MCCORMACK, John William 3 | Democrat | MA |
| 77th (1941–1943) | MCCORMACK, John William | Democrat | MA |
| 78th (1943–1945) | MCCORMACK, John William | Democrat | MA |
| 79th (1945–1947) | MCCORMACK, John William | Democrat | MA |
| 80th (1947–1949) | HALLECK, Charles Abraham | Republican | IN |
| 81st (1949–1951) | MCCORMACK, John William | Democrat | MA |
| 82nd (1951–1953) | MCCORMACK, John William | Democrat | MA |
| 83rd (1953–1955) | HALLECK, Charles Abraham | Republican | IN |
| 84th (1955–1957) | MCCORMACK, John William | Democrat | MA |
| 85th (1957–1959) | MCCORMACK, John William | Democrat | MA |
| 86th (1959–1961) | MCCORMACK, John William | Democrat | MA |
| 87th (1961–1963) | MCCORMACK, John William 4 | Democrat | MA |
| 87th (1961–1963) | ALBERT, Carl Bert 5 | Democrat | OK |
| 88th (1963–1965) | ALBERT, Carl Bert | Democrat | OK |
| 89th (1965–1967) | ALBERT, Carl Bert | Democrat | OK |
| 90th (1967–1969) | ALBERT, Carl Bert | Democrat | OK |
| 91st (1969–1971) | ALBERT, Carl Bert | Democrat | OK |
| 92nd (1971–1973) | BOGGS, Thomas Hale, Sr. 6 | Democrat | LA |
| 93rd (1973–1975) | O'NEILL, Thomas Philip, Jr. (Tip) | Democrat | MA |
| 94th (1975–1977) | O'NEILL, Thomas Philip, Jr. (Tip) | Democrat | MA |
| 95th (1977–1979) | WRIGHT, James Claude, Jr. | Democrat | TX |
| 96th (1979–1981) | WRIGHT, James Claude, Jr. | Democrat | TX |
| 97th (1981–1983) | WRIGHT, James Claude, Jr. | Democrat | TX |
| 98th (1983–1985) | WRIGHT, James Claude, Jr. | Democrat | TX |
| 99th (1985–1987) | WRIGHT, James Claude, Jr. | Democrat | TX |
| 100th (1987–1989) | FOLEY, Thomas Stephen | Democrat | WA |
| 101st (1989–1991) | FOLEY, Thomas Stephen 7 | Democrat | WA |
| 101st (1989–1991) | GEPHARDT, Richard Andrew 8 | Democrat | MO |
| 102nd (1991–1993) | GEPHARDT, Richard Andrew | Democrat | MO |
| 103rd (1993–1995) | GEPHARDT, Richard Andrew | Democrat | MO |
| 104th (1995–1997) | ARMEY, Richard Keith | Republican | TX |
| 105th (1997–1999) | ARMEY, Richard Keith | Republican | TX |
| 106th (1999–2001) | ARMEY, Richard Keith | Republican | TX |
| 107th (2001–2003) | ARMEY, Richard Keith | Republican | TX |
| 108th (2003–2005) | DELAY, Thomas Dale | Republican | TX |
| 109th (2005–2007) | DELAY, Thomas Dale 9 | Republican | TX |
| 109th (2005–2007) | BLUNT, Roy 10 | Republican | MO |
| 109th (2005–2007) | BOEHNER, John Andrew 11 | Republican | OH |
| 110th (2007–2009) | HOYER, Steny Hamilton | Democrat | MD |
| 111th (2009–2011) | HOYER, Steny Hamilton | Democrat | MD |
| 112th (2011–2013) | CANTOR, Eric | Republican | VA |
| 113th (2013–2015) | CANTOR, Eric 12 | Republican | VA |
| 113th (2013–2015) | MCCARTHY, Kevin 13 | Republican | CA |
Footnotes
1Elected Speaker on June 4, 1936, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Speaker Joseph Byrns. Records indicate that Representative John J. O’Connor of New York, chairman of the House Rules Committee, served as acting Majority Leader during the 14 remaining days of the 74th Congress. O’Connor does not, however, appear to have been formally elected Majority Leader at that time and, therefore, is not included in this list. At the commencement of the 75th Congress, Representatives Samuel (Sam) Rayburn, James O’Connor, John Rankin, and others competed for the post of Majority Leader. Representative Rayburn ultimately was elected by the Democratic Caucus.
2Elected Speaker on September 16, 1940, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Speaker William Bankhead.
3Elected Majority Leader on September 26, 1940, to fill the vacancy created when Majority Leader Sam Rayburn was elected Speaker. From September 19 to 26, 1940, Representative Lindsay Warren of North Carolina served as the acting Majority Leader.
4Elected Speaker on January 10, 1962, at the commencement of the 87th Congress, 2nd session, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Sam Rayburn.
5Elected Majority Leader on January 10, 1962, at the commencement of the 87th Congress, 2nd session, to fill the vacancy left when Majority Leader John McCormack was elected Speaker.
6Disappeared on a flight from Anchorage to Juneau, Alaska, October 16, 1972. Presumed dead pursuant to House Resolution 1, at the commencement of the 93rd Congress.
7Elected Speaker on June 6, 1989, following Speaker James Wright’s resignation on the same date.
8Elected Majority Leader on June 14, 1989, to fill the vacancy left when Majority Leader Thomas Foley was elected Speaker on June 6, 1989.
9On September 28, 2005, Majority Leader Tom DeLay temporarily stepped aside as Majority Leader pursuant to Republican Conference rules.
10Elected Majority Leader on an interim basis by the Republican Conference on September 28, 2005, to fill the vacancy created when Majority Leader Tom DeLay temporarily stepped aside.
11Elected Majority Leader by the Republican Conference on February 2, 2006.
12Resigned as Majority Leader on July 31, 2014.
13Elected Majority Leader on June 19, 2014, and assumed office on July 31, 2014, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Eric Cantor as Majority Leader.