NATION : Mitchell to Head Senate Again
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WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats elected Majority Leader George J. Mitchell to a second term today while Wendell Ford was chosen unanimously for the No. 2 job in the Democratic leadership ranks.
Mitchell, of Maine, had no opposition among the Senate’s 56 Democrats. Ford was chosen assistant majority leader after Sen. David Pryor of Arkansas, who had considered challenging him, abandoned that plan and was reelected secretary to the Democratic conference.
Ford, of Kentucky, will replace Alan Cranston of California, who announced he would not seek reelection to the Senate in 1992 and also was stepping down as assistant majority leader.
On the other side of the aisle, Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi was mounting a challenge against Sen. John Chafee of Rhode Island, the incumbent chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, the No. 3 GOP job.
Like Mitchell, Republican leader Bob Dole of Kansas had no opposition for reelection. Republicans were caucusing later in the day to select their leadership team.
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