Patty Murray
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Patricia Lynn Murray is an American politician who has served as president pro tempore of the United States Senate since 2023 and the senior United States Senator from Washington since 1993. A member of the Democratic Party, Murray served in the Washington State Senate from 1989 to 1993. She was Washington's first female U.S. senator and is the first woman in American history to hold the position of president pro tempore. Murray is also the youngest senator to occupy the office of president pro tempore in more than five decades. As president pro tempore, Murray is third in the line of succession to the U.S. presidency.
Official portrait, 2013
Senator Murray at the podium, joined by (left to right), Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), launching an interactive website regarding the nomination of Judge John Roberts as the Chief Justice of the United States.
Major General Galen Jackman briefs Senator Patty Murray on the Manned Ground Vehicle program in Washington, D.C.
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
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The president pro tempore of the United States Senate is the second-highest-ranking official of the United States Senate, after the vice president. According to Article One, Section Three of the United States Constitution, the vice president of the United States is the president of the Senate, and the Senate must choose a president pro tempore to act in the vice president's absence.
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
John Tyler is the only Senate president pro tempore to later become President of the United States.
Hubert Humphrey (D-Minnesota) was the first deputy president pro tempore in 1977–1978.
Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), former president pro tempore, and current president pro tempore emeritus