An elated Nancy Pelosi emerged Wednesday from winning a contentious leadership election promising to “put forth a message that does connect with the American people,” and to reach out to the blue-collar voters that Democrats lost in this month’s election.
Pelosi, who won an eighth term leading House Democrats after beating back a formidable challenge from Rep. Tim Ryan, of Ohio, said she was “heartbroken” about Hillary Clinton’s Nov. 8 loss to President-elect Trump.
But she said she was “exhilarated” and has “a special spring in my step,” after winning another term as leader. Pelosi did not address the 63 Democrats who voted against her — a full third of her caucus and the largest group to ever oppose her since she became the top leader in 2003.
But Pelosi, who represents San Francisco, acknowledged a need to reformulate the party’s message, which critics have argued did not resonate with the Rust Belt and working-class voters who helped Trump beat Clinton.
“Where we can engage we will, where we need to oppose we will,” Pelosi said. “But nonetheless, this affords an opportunity for congressional Democrats to go forward and remove all doubt that never again will we have an election where there is any doubt where Democrats are when it comes to America’s working families.”
