Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner picked to head National Republican Senatorial Committee

DENVER – Colorado’s junior Senator, Cory Gardner, was picked to serve as a high-ranking member of the Republican leadership team in the U.S. Senate Wednesday morning.

Gardner was elected to be the new National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman and will replace Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker as the chairman.

The committee aims to increase the Republican majority in the Senate through fundraising and other campaigning, so Gardner will be in charge of providing support and planning to Republicans running for re-election or trying to be elected to a seat in the Senate.

“I am excited about this expanded opportunity to serve Coloradans and make their voice heard on a larger stage. I am honored to have the confidence of the other Republican Senators to take on this leadership role and I won’t let them down,” Sen. Gardner said in a news release.

Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell will serve as Senate Republican leader; Texas Sen. John Cornyn will be Senate Republican whip; South Dakota Sen. John Thune will serve as Senate Republican Conference chairman; Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso will be Senate Republican Policy Committee chairman and Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt will serve as Senate Republican Conference vice chairman.

On the Democrat’s side, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer was elected to be Minority Leader, replacing Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, who is retiring. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin will be Minority whip and Washington Sen. Patty Murray will be assistant leader.

In the House, current Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says she will seek re-election to the job.