Senate Republicans elected Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., to succeed Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., as chairman of the Senate Steering Committee today. Toomey will relieve DeMint in September. DeMint has held the post since November 2006.
“I’m honored to lead the historic Steering Committee,” Toomey said. “It is a privilege to be entrusted with this position. Sen. DeMint has been a courageous leader, and I look forward to building on the great work he has done.”
Established in 1974, DeMint is one of the longest serving chairman of the Steering Committee. Senate sources say he wanted to pass the chairmanship to one of the class of 2010 senators that he helped elect. Toomey’s elevation is particularly sweet since DeMint caused much consternation among moderate GOP in the conference when he chose to endorse Toomey over former-Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., in the Republican primary.
“Sen. Pat Toomey is a proven and trusted conservative, and I’m very glad he’s taking on this new role,” DeMint said. “I’ve fought hard over the last few years to help elect new conservatives to the Senate, and it’s very rewarding to see them step into positions of leadership.”
