Appointed senators: The winners, seat-warmers, losers and weirdos – Roll Call

Podcasts

Appointed senators: The winners, seat-warmers, losers and weirdos

Political Theater, Episode 354

Two appointed senators, Roger Wicker, R-Miss., left, and Roland Burris, D-Ill., walk through Statuary Hall before President Barack Obama's address to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 24, 2009. Burris did not seek election following his appointment. Wicker won election and has continued to climb the ranks in the chamber. — Two appointed senators, Roger Wicker, R-Miss., left, and Roland Burris, D-Ill., walk through Statuary Hall before President Barack Obama's address to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 24, 2009. Burris did not seek election following his appointment. Wicker won election and has continued to climb the ranks in the chamber. (CQ Roll Call file photo)

By Jason Dick and Nathan L. Gonzales

Posted January 15, 2025 at 8:29pm

Appointed senators: They’re a thing. Of the 206 individuals appointed to the Senate since 1913, when the 17th Amendment codified direct election of senators and how to fill vacant seats, 11 of them are currently serving. Jason Dick and Nathan Gonzales go through the highlights, lowlights and weirdlights of this category of senators.

Show Notes:

Recent Stories

South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham arrives for her ceremonial swearing-at the Capitol on Tuesday.

Trump backs newly appointed Darline Graham for full Senate term

Flowers honoring the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., are seen during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in the Hart Senate Office Building on Thursday.

‘A dumber and grimmer place’ — Congressional Hits and Misses

A patient is wheeled to surgery on the opening day of UCI Health - Irvine in Irvine, Calif., on Dec. 10, 2025. Many of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality grants terminated this week had supported junior researchers and innovative studies focused on patient care.

HHS research agency ends funding for dozens of health studies

A black drape and flowers mark the seat once belonging to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham at a Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday.

Dates set for Lindsey Graham funeral services

Family members of victims speak to reporters on March 25 outside the Los Angeles County Superior Court during one of the coordinated lawsuits alleging that Meta and YouTube are designed to hook young users and cause them a variety of negative mental health effects.

Kids online safety push faces First Amendment hurdles

President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House on July 16, 2026.

The Factba.se deep dive on Trump fraud claims