ranking member

Cultural  

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.

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Example Sentences

Durbin is also the Democratic whip in the Senate and serves as the ranking member of Senate Judiciary Committee.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

Adm Bradley "did the right thing", said Democratic congressman Jim Himes, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, after he heard from the admiral and viewed the video.

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025

Ms. Shaheen, a Democrat, is a U.S. senator from New Hampshire and ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 29, 2025

Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill., ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, called out Bondi at a press conference on Wednesday.

From Salon • Jul. 24, 2025

He is followed by the ranking member of the minority on the committee, and these are followed by other members of the committee in their turn.

From Government in the United States National, State and Local by Garner, James Wilford