United States Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee

The United States Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee (DSOC) is a committee of the United States Senate dedicated to fostering dialogue between Senate Democrats and community leaders across the United States. The Steering Committee hosts several meetings each year with advocates, activists, policy experts, and elected officials to help the structuring of the Democrats' agenda in the United States Senate.^[1] Some of these meetings also happen annually such as with U.S. Jewish groups to discuss the U.S. Israel relations and the Jewish community in the United States.^[2]

Members, 119th Congress

Roster
Senator		State
	Amy Klobuchar, Steering & Policy Chair	Minnesota
	Jeanne Shaheen, Steering & Policy Vice Chair	New Hampshire
	Bernie Sanders, Outreach Chair	Vermont
	Catherine Cortez Masto, Outreach Vice Chair	Nevada
	Chuck Schumer	New York
	Dick Durbin	Illinois
	Kirsten Gillibrand	New York
	Chris Coons	Delaware
	Brian Schatz	Hawaii
	Tammy Baldwin	Wisconsin
	Chris Murphy	Connecticut
	Vacant[a]	TBA
	Vacant[b]	TBA
	Vacant[c]	TBA

Historical Committee Rosters

118th Congress

Roster[3]
Senator		State
	Amy Klobuchar, Steering Chair	Minnesota
	Jeanne Shaheen, Steering Vice Chair	New Hampshire
	Bernie Sanders, Outreach Chair	Vermont
	Catherine Cortez Masto, Outreach Vice Chair	Nevada
	Chuck Schumer	New York
	Dick Durbin	Illinois
	Kirsten Gillibrand	New York
	Chris Coons	Delaware
	Bob Casey, Jr.	Pennsylvania
	Jon Tester	Montana
	Brian Schatz	Hawaii
	Tammy Baldwin	Wisconsin
	Chris Murphy	Connecticut
	Robert Menendez, Chair of Hispanic Task Force (until August 20, 2024)	New Jersey

117th Congress

Roster[4]
Senator		State
	Amy Klobuchar, Steering Chair	Minnesota
	Jeanne Shaheen, Steering Vice Chair	New Hampshire
	Bernie Sanders, Outreach Chair	Vermont
	Catherine Cortez Masto, Outreach Vice Chair	Nevada
	Chuck Schumer	New York
	Dick Durbin	Illinois
	Patrick Leahy	Vermont
	Kirsten Gillibrand	New York
	Chris Coons	Delaware
	Bob Casey, Jr.	Pennsylvania
	Jon Tester	Montana
	Brian Schatz	Hawaii
	Tammy Baldwin	Wisconsin
	Chris Murphy	Connecticut
	Robert Menendez, Chair of Hispanic Task Force	New Jersey

116th Congress

After Bill Nelson lost his 2018 reelection bid,^[5] he left the committee and his position was left unfilled.

Roster[6]
Senator		State
	Amy Klobuchar, Chair	Minnesota
	Jeanne Shaheen, Vice Chair	New Hampshire
	Chuck Schumer	New York
	Dick Durbin	Illinois
	Patrick Leahy	Vermont
	Kirsten Gillibrand	New York
	Chris Coons	Delaware
	Bob Casey, Jr.	Pennsylvania
	Jon Tester	Montana
	Brian Schatz	Hawaii
	Tammy Baldwin	Wisconsin
	Robert Menendez, Chair of Hispanic Task Force	New Jersey

115th Congress

Roster[7]
Senator		State
	Amy Klobuchar, Steering Chair	Minnesota
	Bernie Sanders, Outreach Chair	Vermont
	Jeanne Shaheen, Vice Chair	New Hampshire
	Chuck Schumer	New York
	Dick Durbin	Illinois
	Patrick Leahy	Vermont
	Kirsten Gillibrand	New York
	Chris Coons, Chair of Business Outreach	Delaware
	Bill Nelson	Florida
	Bob Casey, Jr.	Pennsylvania
	Jon Tester	Montana
	Brian Schatz	Hawaii
	Tammy Baldwin	Wisconsin
	Bob Menendez, Chair of Hispanic Task Force	New Jersey

Leadership

Chairpersons

Leadership
Term	Senator			State
108th		Hillary Clinton		New York
109th		Hillary Clinton		New York
110th		Debbie Stabenow		Michigan
111th		Debbie Stabenow		Michigan
112th		Mark Begich		Alaska
113th		Mark Begich		Alaska
114th		Amy Klobuchar		Minnesota
	Steering			Outreach
Term	Senator		State	Senator		State
115th		Amy Klobuchar	Minnesota		Bernie Sanders	Vermont
116th		Amy Klobuchar	Minnesota		Bernie Sanders	Vermont
117th		Amy Klobuchar	Minnesota		Bernie Sanders [8]	Vermont
118th		Amy Klobuchar	Minnesota		Bernie Sanders	Vermont
119th		Amy Klobuchar[d]	Minnesota		Bernie Sanders	Vermont

Vice Chairpersons

Leadership
Term	Senator			State
112th		Daniel Akaka		Hawaii
113th		Jeanne Shaheen		New Hampshire
114th		Jeanne Shaheen		New Hampshire
	Steering			Outreach
Term	Senator		State	Senator		State
115th		Jeanne Shaheen	New Hampshire	Position not established until 2021 at the start of the 117th Congress.
116th		Jeanne Shaheen	New Hampshire
117th		Jeanne Shaheen	New Hampshire		Catherine Cortez Masto	Nevada
118th		Jeanne Shaheen	New Hampshire		Catherine Cortez Masto	Nevada
119th		Jeanne Shaheen [e]	New Hampshire		Catherine Cortez Masto	Nevada

History

In November 2008, following that year's presidential election, the committee, whose responsibilities include proposing chairmanships and committee assignments to be ratified by the Democratic caucus, considered stripping Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman of his Chairmanship of the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs after he endorsed Republican senator John McCain in his 2008 presidential campaign. Many within the caucus expressed disappointment over his fervent support for McCain and his questioning of then-Democratic senator Barack Obama's qualifications to run for the position.^[9] Ultimately, the caucus voted 42–13 to allow Lieberman to retain his chairmanship while sanctioning him to be removed from the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.^[10]

In November 2016, after Democrat Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 United States presidential election, then-Senate Democratic Leader-elect Chuck Schumer announced Bernie Sanders would fill the newly established position of Outreach Chair in the committee. Sanders came to prominence during the 2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries and his appointment was seen as a broader acknowledgment of his role in galvanizing the electorate. This made Sanders the first independent to hold a leadership position within the Democratic Party.^[8]

Notes

1. Formerly Bob Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania who lost reelection bid in 2024.
2. Formerly Jon Tester of Montana who lost reelection bid in 2024.
3. Formerly Bob Menendez who resigned in 2024 after bribery charge conviction.
4. As Chair of the Steering & Policy Committee
5. As Vice Chair of the Steering & Policy Committee