ranking member

1. A legislator on a committee who belongs to the majority party and, by virtue of seniority, ranks first after the committee chairman. The most senior member representing the minority party is the ranking minority member of the committee.

Example Sentences

Adriano Espaillat of New York, who is the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, who is the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee; and Jamie Raskin, of Maryland, who is the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee.

From Los Angeles Times

The Oregon Democrat, who is the ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, says that he has been pushing the Justice Department to uncover the full extent of Epstein’s money movements and the banks that enabled them.

From Salon

Sen. Mark Warner, ranking member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence wasn’t any more in the loop than you were.

From Slate

It’s hard to imagine she didn’t recognize Padilla, who served on her confirmation committee and is the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship and Border Safety.

From Los Angeles Times

“CBO already confirmed that House Republicans are planning to strip health care from 16 million people — just to help pay for tax breaks for billionaires,” House Budget Committee Ranking Member Brendan Boyle, D-Pa, shared in a statement.

From Salon