After election results that sent many of us into a panic, it looks like the House Democrats may be in the process of changing leadership. A vote was supposed to happen today to elect the leader of the House, which Nancy Pelosi has held for 14 years.
However, the vote was delayed until November 30, so does that mean Pelosi could be in danger of losing her leadership role? From the sounds of it, yes! And with the drama that has been going around the Democratic National Committee, it might be a good choice.
The delay in voting was setup to give Democrats the chance to let the results sink in and determine a new plan of action. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said:
“We just had a shellacking. We just got a shellacking last Tuesday. We got an unexpected defeat and we’ve got to recalibrate it and decide how we go forward. It’s just like death. There are difference stages of grief you go through.”
It appears that some younger Democrats have been working behind the scenes to review Democratic leadership. They gathered 33 signatures in a letter asking for a thorough review of why Democrats lost so badly in the last election.
Representative Seth Moulton was one of those Democrats urging Pelosi to delay the election until after Thanksgiving.
In a statement from Moulton, he said:
“As we begin the 115th Congress, House Democrats must take the time to reflect on the message the American people sent us last Tuesday. Delaying the vote on leadership positions is the necessary first step to have that conversation. The American people cried out last week and we’ve got to listen.”
While no one has thrown their hat into the ring yet, it looks like Representative Tim Ryan is considering challenging Pelosi. Michael Zetts, Ryan’s spokesman, said on Monday:
“He is concerned that if changes aren’t made we will be in the political wilderness for many years to come.”
Ryan has talked about losing voters in “flyover country” to Trump during this election. He said:
“We lost those voters and we’ve got to find a way to get them back in. And it starts with a message that resonates in the fly-over states. Who is the leader who can going into the Southern states? Who can going into the Midwestern states? That’s the question, that’s the discussion we need to have.”
Ryan may not have said he wants the leadership role for the House Democrats, but he has support. A Democratic lawmaker said:
“I think a lot of us feel the landscape has changed. We need people who can learn new tricks and not do things the way they have been done that last 20 or 30 years.”
Pelosi added:
“I do care that we have the strongest possible leadership at the table, whoever that may be.”
Could that mean Pelosi would step down if the House Democrats asked her to? We will find out with the November 30 vote now!
Featured Image By Bill Clark Via CQ Roll Call.
