Washington (CNN)When Democratic senators arrived for their policy lunch this week, several came off the elevators in the Capitol and turned instinctively towards the Mansfield Room, a large and elegant meeting space just off the Senate floor. It was only after walking in on a roomful of lunching Republican senators that the Democrats, to their chagrin, realized that when they lost the majority, they also lost many of the perks of power -- including use of the spacious room that's hosted Democratic caucuses for the last eight years. "I'm going to the wrong caucus," Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said with an embarrassed smile as he turned to find the LBJ Room, an equally ornate but tighter room where the smaller 46-member Democratic caucus will now meet.
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Most Senate Democrats have never been in the minority
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New status in Senate will require adjustment for many Democrats
Democrats
Senate Democrats
The room assignment is just one example of how life will be different for @placeholder after a long eight years in the majority -- so long, in fact, that most current Democratic senators have never served in the minority.
Democratic
Democratic
Democratic
The room assignment is just one example of how life will be different for Democrats after a long eight years in the majority -- so long, in fact, that most current @placeholder senators have never served in the minority.
Democrats
Senate Democrats
Gone too are committee slots for @placeholder, as Republicans beef up GOP control of the committees that will vote to cuts taxes, slash spending, ditch government regulations, and approve other measures that many Democrats oppose.
Republican
Gone too are committee slots for Democrats, as Republicans beef up @placeholder control of the committees that will vote to cuts taxes, slash spending, ditch government regulations, and approve other measures that many Democrats oppose.
Democrats
Senate Democrats
The long weekends @placeholder regularly scheduled by taking most Fridays off are also a thing of the past.
Democratic
Democratic
Democratic
"And the President's veto pen becomes a major element and 34 @placeholder senators become decisive," he said, referring to the number of Democrats needed to prevent Republicans from overriding a presidential veto.
Democrats
Senate Democrats
"And the President's veto pen becomes a major element and 34 Democratic senators become decisive," he said, referring to the number of @placeholder needed to prevent Republicans from overriding a presidential veto.