Some House Democrats are trying to reform the rules regarding how the caucus chooses its leader in an effort to oust House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., according to a report.
Democrats opposed to Pelosi want to introduce an amendment so that if Democrats win the House in November, a candidate hoping to become speaker requires the support of 218 members in the caucus, equal to a majority of the entire House. If Democrats do not flip the chamber, the caucus’ leader will be the person who secures the plurality of votes from the group.
Currently, the backing of the majority of the caucus is needed to be the party’s leader in the House before they are put forward as a candidate for the speakership. Given the numbers in the chamber, the leader of the party in power always prevails to become speaker.
[Also read: Sacramento Bee urges Nancy Pelosi to abandon speakership ambitions]
The changes, proposed in a Sept. 13 letter to House Democratic caucus chair Joe Crowley and House Democratic caucus vice chair Linda Sanchez, was signed by 11 anti-Pelosi Democrats. The letter was reported by the Atlantic and CBS News late Wednesday.
The suggestion is set to be discussed next week at a House Democratic weekly strategy meeting, an aide told the news outlet. Other staffers said the amendment is unlikely to pass.
Pelosi has become a divisive figure in electoral politics as Republicans use her in advertisements designed to drive their voters to the polls. But she is also disliked by members of her own party for not being more liberal, forcing some congressional candidates to distance themselves from her on the campaign trail.
Pelosi staved off a leadership challenge in 2016, but told CNN last week that she feels “very comfortable” she has enough support to become speaker if Democrats seize control after the 2018 midterm elections.
