<Table> <Tr> <Th colspan="8"> <P> Republican R ( 51 ) Democratic D ( 47 ) Independent I ( 2 ) </P> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Current rank </Th> <Th> Historical rank </Th> <Th colspan="2"> Senator Party - State </Th> <Th> Seniority date </Th> <Th> First tie - breaker </Th> <Th> Second tie - breaker </Th> <Th> Committee and leadership positions </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> 1692 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Leahy , Patrick Patrick Leahy D -- Vermont </Td> <Td> January 3 , 1975 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Ranking Member : Appropriations President pro tempore emeritus </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> 1708 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Hatch , Orrin Orrin Hatch R -- Utah </Td> <Td> January 3 , 1977 </Td> <Td> President pro tempore Chair : Finance </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> 1719 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Cochran , Thad Thad Cochran R -- Mississippi </Td> <Td> December 27 , 1978 </Td> <Td> Chair : Appropriations </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> 1745 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Grassley , Chuck Chuck Grassley R -- Iowa </Td> <Td> January 3 , 1981 </Td> <Td> Chair : Judiciary </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 5 </Th> <Th> 1766 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> McConnell , Mitch Mitch McConnell R -- Kentucky </Td> <Td> January 3 , 1985 </Td> <Td> Majority Leader </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 6 </Th> <Th> 1775 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Shelby , Richard Richard Shelby R -- Alabama </Td> <Td> January 3 , 1987 </Td> <Td> Former Representative ( 8 years ) </Td> <Td> Chair : Rules </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 7 </Th> <Th> 1777 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> McCain , John John McCain R -- Arizona </Td> <Td> Former Representative ( 4 years ) </Td> <Td> Chair : Armed Services </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 8 </Th> <Th> 1801 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Feinstein , Dianne Dianne Feinstein D -- California </Td> <Td> November 4 , 1992 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Ranking Member : Judiciary </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 9 </Th> <Th> 1810 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Murray , Patty Patty Murray D -- Washington </Td> <Td> January 3 , 1993 </Td> <Td> Ranking Member : HELP Assistant Minority Leader </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 10 </Th> <Th> 1816 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Inhofe , Jim Jim Inhofe R -- Oklahoma </Td> <Td> November 16 , 1994 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 11 </Th> <Th> 1827 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Wyden , Ron Ron Wyden D -- Oregon </Td> <Td> February 6 , 1996 </Td> <Td> Ranking Member : Finance </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 12 </Th> <Th> 1830 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Roberts , Pat Pat Roberts R -- Kansas </Td> <Td> January 3 , 1997 </Td> <Td> Former Representative ( 16 years ) </Td> <Td> Chair : Agriculture </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 13 </Th> <Th> 1831 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Durbin , Dick Dick Durbin D -- Illinois </Td> <Td> Former Representative ( 14 years ) </Td> <Td> Minority Whip </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 14 </Th> <Th> 1835 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Reed , Jack Jack Reed D -- Rhode Island </Td> <Td> Former Representative ( 6 years ) </Td> <Td> Ranking Member : Armed Services </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 15 </Th> <Th> 1842 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Collins , Susan Susan Collins R -- Maine </Td> <Td> Maine 38th in population ( 1990 ) </Td> <Td> Chair : Aging </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 16 </Th> <Th> 1843 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Enzi , Mike Mike Enzi R -- Wyoming </Td> <Td> Wyoming 50th in population ( 1990 ) </Td> <Td> Chair : Budget </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 17 </Th> <Th> 1844 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Schumer , Chuck Chuck Schumer D -- New York </Td> <Td> January 3 , 1999 </Td> <Td> Former Representative ( 18 years ) </Td> <Td> Minority Leader </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 18 </Th> <Th> 1846 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Crapo , Mike Mike Crapo R -- Idaho </Td> <Td> Former Representative ( 6 years ) </Td> <Td> Chair : Banking </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 19 </Th> <Th> 1854 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Nelson , Bill Bill Nelson D -- Florida </Td> <Td> January 3 , 2001 </Td> <Td> Former Representative ( 12 years ) </Td> <Td> Ranking Member : Commerce </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 20 </Th> <Th> 1855 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Carper , Tom Tom Carper D -- Delaware </Td> <Td> Former Representative ( 10 years ) </Td> <Td> Ranking Member : Environment </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 21 </Th> <Th> 1856 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Stabenow , Debbie Debbie Stabenow D -- Michigan </Td> <Td> Former Representative ( 4 years ) </Td> <Td> Ranking Member : Agriculture Democratic Policy Committee Chair </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 22 </Th> <Th> 1859 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> Cantwell , Maria Maria Cantwell
who is currently serving as president of the senate
Orrin Hatch