# Will the Republicans still have a de jure Senate plurality? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 8, 2021, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-still-have-a-de-jure-senate-plurality/929989 "2021-01-08T02:13:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-still-have-a-de-jure-senate-plurality/929989/1 "2021-01-08T02:13:20Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-still-have-a-de-jure-senate-plurality/929989/2 "2021-01-08T02:15:55Z")
Discussed in this thread from earlier today: > [@Senate spit is 50/50. Who gets to elect a majority leader?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-spit-is-50-50-who-gets-to-elect-a-majority-leader/929947): > > Technically, the republicans still have a majority in the Senate because of the two independents. I assume McConnell will continue to be majority leader. It’s happened several times before, most recently for six months in 2001. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-still-have-a-de-jure-senate-plurality/929989/3 "2021-01-08T02:23:49Z")
Perhaps a moderator should close this thread. I don’t know how to report it for moderation in the new environment. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-still-have-a-de-jure-senate-plurality/929989/4 "2021-01-08T02:26:07Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-still-have-a-de-jure-senate-plurality/929989/5 "2021-01-08T02:26:15Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > I don’t know how to report it for moderation in the new environment. 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! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-still-have-a-de-jure-senate-plurality/929989/6 "2021-01-08T02:30:18Z")
---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-still-have-a-de-jure-senate-plurality/929989/7 "2021-01-08T02:30:47Z")
Closed as duplicate.