Massachusetts Democrat Rep. Stephen Lynch on Friday officially endorsed Nancy Pelosi for House speaker, breaking with a band of defectors working to prevent the longtime Democratic leader from reclaiming the gavel.
Lynch joined a rebel group of Democrats shortly after the November elections that gave their party the majority, vowing in a letter to vote against Pelosi on the floor in January. But Lynch had a change of heart after multiple conversations with Pelosi, saying he received assurances that she will prioritize items on his legislative wishlist.
“Leader Pelosi has assured me that the priorities of average working families will be the priorities of the upcoming Congress,” Lynch said in a statement blasted out by Pelosi’s office. “In the recent past, working class Democrats have felt that they were taken for granted in our party and candidate Donald Trump exploited that perception.”
Lynch said Pelosi promised to work on pension reform, infrastructure, college affordability, and protecting Social Security and Medicare. He also received assurances that Pelosi will “re-empower” the House Oversight Committee, which Lynch sits on.
“From our conversations, I believe Leader Pelosi understands not only the job that needs to be done, but also how to bring disparate voices in our party together to make good things happen for the people we represent,” Lynch said. “I’m happy to be supporting her and look forward to the upcoming session.”
Lynch signaled his imminent endorsement last week. Despite repeated setbacks, detractors claim they still have the votes to deny Pelosi a second shot at the speaker’s gavel in January.
