Will the Republicans still have a de jure Senate plurality?

Politics & Elections
1

Although for the purposes of its day-to-day operations, the Senate will have a 50-50 Republican-Democrat composition, with incoming VP Harris providing an effective Democratic majority, it doesn’t seem that simple to me. The 50 non-Republican members will comprise 48 Democrats and two independents, the latter of which caucus with the Democrats. So, in this sense the Republicans could be said to still hold a plurality of the seats, because on a de jure basis we have only 48 Democrats.

With that in mind, how will the committee chairmanships be decided? Will some go to Republicans and some to Democrats? Or will one or another of the two major parties get all of them? As a confirmed Democrat I have to admit, if this shoe were on the other foot I would be arguing that my party should have all of the committee chairs.

And have we ever have such an evenly divided Senate in our history?

2

Discussed in this thread from earlier today:

It’s happened several times before, most recently for six months in 2001.

3

Perhaps a moderator should close this thread. I don’t know how to report it for moderation in the new environment.

4

Click the three-button icon below the post, then click the flag icon. Select “Something else” from the pop-up window, and explain why.
I’ve done it - explanation being OP requested closure, asked and answered.

5

Click the three dots in the lower right corner of one of your posts, then the “flag” icon, then select “Something else,” and type a message for the moderator with your request.

Edit: ninjaed by @galen_ubal!

7

Closed as duplicate.