The Senate Candy Desk is a tradition in the US Senate where a candy-loving Senator is responsible for keeping the desk stocked with sweets from their home state. It began in the 1960s and is an exception to the seniority rule. Candy makers often use it for PR. When the desk changes hands, it makes headlines.
The Senate Candy Desk is a special counter on the Republican side of the aisle of the United States Senate that is kept stocked with various candies. The Senator who sits at the Candy Desk is responsible for ensuring that it is well stocked with sweets, and by tradition, the candy must come from the Senator’s home state. This desk is one of the few exceptions to the Senate seat seniority rule, as it is generally offered to a candy-loving Senator, who may in fact lose a seat further up the chamber for the privilege of holding the Senate desk. candies.
The Senate Candy Desk tradition began in the 1960s, although there is some controversy as to whether it began with Arizona Senator Paul Fannin or California Senator George Murphy. Either way, the desk in the back row on the Republican side of the Senate, closest to the side door, became known as the place to stop for a quick fix of sweet treats, and the desk became an enduring Senate tradition.
At the start of each new Senate session, the benches in the Senate chamber are typically distributed by seniority, with high-ranking senators sitting near the front of the chamber, while junior senators sit in the back. Republicans sit on the right side of the chamber, while Democrats sit on the left side of the chamber, across a corridor. Some Senate benches are reserved for particular Senators; for example, Daniel Webster’s former desk goes to the senior senator from New Hampshire. Generally, agreements on who will take over the Candy Desk are made before the new session starts.
Some Senators have complained about the expense of maintaining the Senate Candy Desk, as stressful Senate sessions can take a toll on the Candy Desk’s content. As a result, some senators occasionally compensate the desk owner with a few dollars. Candy makers also realized that stocking your desk could be a great PR opportunity; Hershey famously supplied 400 pounds (181 kilograms) of candy a year to the Senate Candy Desk when he was in the custody of Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.
When the Senate Candy Desk changes hands, it often makes headlines as an interesting tidbit of the hallowed traditions of the United States Senate. In 2007, a candy controversy erupted when a Senator from Wyoming took over; Wyoming is not a known candy producing state and it was feared that Senator Craig Thomas would not be able to keep his desk fully stocked with candy exports from his home state. Luckily, several artisan candy makers from around Wyoming have stepped in to fill the desk with Wyoming specialties.
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