Seventeen House Democrats are trying to topple their longtime leader Nancy Pelosi and have agreed to vote against her for speaker on the House floor, and more might be coming.
The 17 members include several incoming freshmen who want to see generational change at the top. A core contingent of anti-Pelosi members launched the campaign to oust Pelosi, who has led the caucus for 16 years, within a day of Democrats winning control of the House.
Pelosi has yet to waver and confidently insists she’ll be the next speaker and is even daring her critics to put forward a challenger or prove they have the numbers to replace her.
“I intend to win the speakership with Democratic votes,” Pelosi said Thursday in a defiant back-and-forth with press. “I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be speaker of the House.”
But questions about Pelosi’s future have steadily increased as the faction working against her teases their growing numbers and vocally call for her to step down rather that take the fight to the floor. Pelosi is hailed as a master vote counter and has found ways to woo incoming freshman Democrats to her side, but her opponents show no signs of slowing in their push to force her out.
Below is the list of current and incoming members pledging to vote against Pelosi’s speaker bid on the floor, provided to the Washington Examiner by a source close to the anti-Pelosi faction.
Current members:
1. Tim Ryan, Ohio.
2. Seth Moulton, Mass.
3. Kathleen Rice, N.Y.
4. Ed Perlmutter, Colo.
5. Kurt Schrader, Ore.
6. Filemon Vela, Texas
7. Marcia Fudge, Ohio
8. Linda Sanchez, Calif.
9. Bill Foster, Ill.
10. Brian Higgins, N.Y.
11. Jim Cooper, Tenn.
12. Stephen Lynch, Mass.
Incoming members:
13. Jeff Van Drew, N.J.
14. Joe Cunningham, S.C.
15. Max Rose, N.Y.
16. Anthony Brindisi, N.Y. (race still uncalled)
17. Ben McAdams, Utah (race still uncalled)
Two more newly-elected members are close to signing the letter, which would bring the total to 19, according to a source. Pelosi’s opponents are expected to release their letter and list of defectors as early as this week.
