House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Friday urged her Democratic caucus to hold leadership elections after Thanksgiving, which would give newly elected members time to orient themselves to their new job.
The letter to the caucus comes after more Democrats made their ambitions known this week, and talk continued to escalate about potential challenges to the top three leaders. Exerting her authority, Pelosi’s Friday letter to her caucus sends a message that she’s still in charge.
If the elections were held today, Pelosi predicted Democrats would win and take control of the House.
“This would mean more leadership positions, more committee assignments and a large freshman class,” she wrote. “I believe it is important that we follow the schedule for leadership elections that the Caucus set last cycle, allowing additional time for freshmen to get oriented.”
“My recommendation to the Caucus would be to set leadership elections sometime after Thanksgiving, at a date to be determined by the Caucus,” she added.
Pelosi’s letter is a reminder to members to stop jockeying for a leadership post and stay focused on winning the majority. Leadership has expressed frustration with members who have either called for a change in the upper brass or hinted that leadership races will be wide open come November.
Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, said he is considering another challenge to Pelosi, following the devastating primary defeat of Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley. Crowley was seen as the likely heir apparent to Pelosi. And Vice Chairwoman Linda Sanchez doubled down on her prior statement that all of the top three leaders should step aside for the younger generation. Sanachez said Wednesday that she stands by her assertion that Pelosi, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn should “pass the torch.”
“House Democrats are focused on winning in November and if you are rowing in the opposite direction, you are only helping Republicans,” said Pelosi spokesman Drew Hamill.
