House Democrats have a recipe for conflict on their hands, and it could bleed into midterm battles.
Indications of a blue wave mean Democrats may be faced with the task of choosing a new speaker of the House after the November elections. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., wants to remain at the head of her caucus, but some members believe it’s time for the 78-year-old to be replaced by a younger Democrat.
So much so, apparently, that Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., “is doing everything possible to position himself for if and when there’s a shakeup at the top,” according to a Tuesday report in Politico. Publicly the 56-year-old lawmaker has said he won’t challenge Pelosi. But there seems to be a desire among some Democrats for him to make a run for the top job. “I think Pelosi and Hoyer ought to take the message from [Paul] Ryan’s retirement and realize it’s time for this caucus to move on. And I think Crowley fits the bill to be our next leader,” Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, told Politico.
“Nearly 20 lawmakers from various corners of the caucus privately agreed with Vela that Crowley has a strong shot at becoming Democratic leader, though there was less consensus on whether that would happen after this election or in 2020,” the Politico report noted.
It would take a lot for Crowley to win the speakership, should his party win back the lower chamber. (And if they don’t, does that make it more or less likely Pelosi will face a serious challenge?) Enough House Democrats would have to join the ranks of their Pelosi-fatigued peers to force the issue. One way that could happen is through midterm battles, as candidates defend seats in districts where Republicans make them answer for Pelosi — that was enough to get Rep.-elect Conor Lamb to oppose her. Contentious primaries in more progressive districts could do the same for candidates running to the Left.
Either way, as Democrats work to win back the House, and Pelosi’s detractors feel emboldened, it seems there’s already some angling afoot for the top job.
