Senate Democrats elected Chuck Schumer as minority leader on Wednesday, tasking the New York senator with preparing party members in the chamber to confront the incoming Trump administration.
Senate Republicans also convened to reelect Mitch McConnell of Kentucky as majority leader.
Schumer said Democrats learned from the elections that the party needs "a sharper, bolder economic message about returning the economic system which so many feel is rigged against them to one that works for the people," Reuters reported.
To carryout this priority, Schumer appointed Bernie Sanders to lead Democratic outreach to working-class voters, many of whom backed the independent senator during the primary elections.
Schumer will succeed Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, who is retiring from Congress in January and will be 77 when he leaves the chamber.
"We're ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Republicans, working with soon-to-be-President Trump on issues where we agree, but we will go toe-to-toe against the president-elect whenever our values or the progress we've made is under assault," Schumer told reporters after the vote.
Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in the House, said she would run again for minority leader. Pelosi delayed House leadership elections until Nov. 30 after members of her party asked for more time to determine how they faltered on Election Day.