California Democrat Nancy Pelosi overwhelmingly won the nomination for House speaker Wednesday in a private vote, securing majority support from the Democratic caucus.
Pelosi trumped the opposition, clinching the nomination 203 to 32. Members were given the option to vote “no” on Pelosi’s candidacy, a change made to the internal ballot to allow freshman the opportunity to say they voted against her.
Pelosi’s victory was expected and changes little in the ongoing intracaucus war on her continued leadership. Those aligned against Pelosi have shown no indication they’re willing to give up their crusade.
“Diversity is our strength but our unity is our power,” Pelosi told reporters as votes were being tallied. “I’m very proud, we look forward to there results, whatever they are, they will be intense and they will be a vote of confidence to send my name to the floor and I’m proud to be the nominee of the House Democratic caucus once again for speaker of the House.”
Pelosi, who has led House Democrats for 16 years, is favored to reclaim the speaker’s gavel in January. She’s surgically picked off defectors in the last week who previously vowed to block her speakership and she’s working overtime to persuade more.
One such detractor, Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., plans to meet with Pelosi Wednesday to discuss the conditions for his support. If he flips, rebel Democrats will have lost three members. Opposition forces say they have more than 20 Democrats prepared to vote against Pelosi in the public January vote, which could deny her the necessary 218 to be elected speaker if every member voted today.
Pelosi met with three ringleaders of the opposition campaign ahead of the caucus vote — Democratic Reps. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Kathleen Rice of New York, and Tim Ryan of Ohio. Moulton requested the meeting and Pelosi listened “closely” to the group’s concerns, according to an aide. But while there is talk of Pelosi trying to make commitments to win over rebel Democrats, Rice said no such offers were made to the trio.
“Moments ago we met with Leader Pelosi and tried to engage her in a reasonable conversation about leadership transition,” Rice said in a statement. “Unfortunately, our concerns were dismissed outright. We remain united behind our goal of new leadership and intend to vote against Leader Pelosi in caucus and on the floor of the House.”
House Democrats on Wednesday also nominated Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., as House Majority Leader by acclamation, and Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., was nominated to be House Majority Whip.
