The longest-serving Republican, Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, presided.

While in the Senate, Lugar was the 5th most senior U.S. Senator and the longest-serving Republican in this body.

At the time of his retirement, he was the longest-serving Republican in the Virginia General Assembly.

Mr. Hastert was called "the accidental speaker" but has since become the longest-serving Republican in that role.

The move left Williams, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate and the third-longest serving members in the entire chamber, as Sauders' presumptive replacement.

As of 2010 he is the sixth-longest currently serving Senator, and the third longest-serving Republican.

Let's start with the Senator for Life, Ted Stevens, 83, the longest-serving Republican in the upper chamber.

He is also one of the longest-serving Republicans in Albany, having faced little opposition at home in Staten Island.

Speaker J. Dennis Hastert made history this year when he became the longest-serving Republican in that post.

"Part of his whole problem has been his arrogance," said the State Senate's longest-serving Republican, George L. Gunther.