With the Senate retirements and elections of 2022 now part of history, the US Senate has finally hit the 2,000 mark of membership after 234 years of history since 1789.
There are 2,002 people who have served in the Senate, most by election, but some by appointment, with 202 appointed to fill a vacancy since 1913, with the ratification of the 17th Amendment, providing for direct popular election of the US Senate.
Eleven of the present membership of the Senate was originally appointed to fill a vacancy, but have won election to the office since then.
The 8 new Senators are:
Katie Britt (R) Alabama
Ted Budd (R) North Carolina
John Fetterman (D) Pennsylvania
Markwayne Mullin (R) Oklahoma
Eric Schmitt (R) Missouri
J D Vance (R) Ohio
Peter Welch (D) Vermont
All of the above were sworn in opening day of the 118th Congress, January 3, 2023.
Additionally, former Governor Pete Ricketts (R) Nebraska, appointed to replace Senator Ben Sasse, who resigned to become President of the University of Florida, will be sworn in on January 23, 2023 as number 2,002!
Ricketts is part of the family that owns the Chicago Cubs baseball team since 2009!