DeMint resignation leaves opening on Commerce Committee

Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-S.C.) announcement on Thursday that he will resign from the Senate opens up the top Republican position on a powerful committee.

DeMint was set to succeed Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas) as the ranking Republican on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee until he revealed on Thursday that he would step down to lead the conservative Heritage Foundation.

Sen. John Thune (S.D.) is the next most senior Republican on the committee, but he was also recently reelected as conference chairman. It is unclear whether he would keep his party leadership role and take on the ranking member position.

 “There is a process for these assignments that will play out and I look forward to discussing this development with my colleagues on the Commerce Committee,” Thune said in an emailed statement.

Sen. Roger Wicker (Miss.) would be the next Republican in line after Thune on the panel. His office did not return a request to comment.

"We're all just learning of this now," a Republican aide on the Commerce Committee said. The aide added that there was no plan in place for which member would take over in DeMint's absence.  

Michael Brumas, a spokesman for Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), noted that the party ratios and membership of each committee are still being decided.

The Commerce Committee, which is chaired by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), has jurisdiction over communications policy, technology, interstate commerce, transportation, aviation and other key areas.

“I wish Jim DeMint well in his new position at the Heritage Foundation," Rockefeller said in a statement. "I look forward to working with whomever the Republicans select as the Ranking Member in the 113th Congress. I know the Commerce Committee will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to create economic growth, invest in our future, and protect consumers.”

—Updated at 12:20 p.m. and 2:23 p.m.

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