On Thursday, a number of incoming Democratic freshman lawmakers, including Sen.-elects Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Lisa Rochester (D-DE), scored plum committee assignments from Schumer. The new senators will be sworn in on Friday.

Slotkin, who holds a background in the CIA and served as an acting assistant secretary of defense, garnered a spot on the powerful Armed Services Committee, making her the only Democrat added to the panel this election cycle. As she replaces Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Slotkin also received spots on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Agriculture, and Veterans’ Affairs committees. 

“Service on these committees is an opportunity to do good things for the people of Michigan,” the new Michigan senator said in a statement to the Detroit News. “These committee assignments will enable me to fulfill the ironclad commitments I made to Michigan during the campaign.”

Gallego, who is replacing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), received a position on the Energy committee, as well as the Banking, HSGAC, and Veterans’ Affairs committees. 

Schiff, formerly a powerful representative in the House, was appointed to the Senate’s Judiciary, Small Business, Agriculture, and Environment and Public Works committees.

Alsobrooks, who defeated former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in a tough Senate battle on Nov. 5, was also named to the EPW committee, in addition to the Banking, Aging, and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committees. 

Schumer also confirmed that Kim, who replaced ex-Sen. Bob Menendez, will hold a total of four committee assignments: Banking, Commerce, HELP, and HGSAC committees.

“These committees will allow me to get to work right away on many of the most pressing issues I’ve been hearing about from New Jersey families,” the incoming New Jersey senator told the New Jersey Globe. “From building more housing that people can afford to lowering healthcare costs to bringing the high-tech jobs of the future to our state, all while strengthening the national security of our nation, I promise to put politics aside and work hard to deliver real results.”

Rochester, the new senator from Delaware, will serve on the Banking, commerce, EPW, and HELP committees. 

Schumer also confirmed on Thursday that several incumbent Democrats had been named as ranking members of critical Senate committees, including Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) for Agriculture; Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) for Banking; Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) for Environment and Public Works; Martin Heinrich (D-NM) for Energy; Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) for Foreign Relations; and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) for Budget. 

Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), who first assumed office in 2021, garnered a position on the influential House Appropriations Committee. The senator already holds roles on the Senate Intelligence and Rules committees, although he lost his position on the Judiciary Committee after Republicans won a Senate majority during the 2024 elections. 

“I look forward to serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee in the new Congress, where I will continue working across the aisle to deliver for Georgia,” Ossoff said in a statement. “On the Intelligence Committee, I will continue to focus on strengthening U.S. national security and leading effective bipartisan congressional oversight.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ossoff’s Georgia colleague, was appointed to the Senate Finance Committee. Warnock will also continue serving on the Senate Agriculture and Banking committees.