 Pallone had been the third-ranking Democrat, and was in line to becoming ranking member after the 2014 midterm elections due to the retirements of John Dingell and Henry Waxman.Pallone was backed by Minority Whip Steny Hoyer and the Congressional Black Caucus, the latter which "made a repeated point to stress the importance of Pallone’s seniority.Black lawmakers have a deep appreciation for seniority, as it was historically the quickest way African-American members earned gavels".