After retaining her spot in leadership Wednesday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s excitement was perhaps only outdone in public by one other group of people: Republicans.
A number of well-known people in GOP went out of their way to express jubilation Wednesday after Pelosi fought off Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, and held on to her spot in House leadership. The San Francisco Democrat has been at the helm of the Democratic caucus since 2003 and has been in power during the party’s fall from grace, beginning with the GOP’s takeover of the House in 2010 and culminating in President-elect Trump’s victory three weeks ago.
“Congrats @NancyPelosi! There’s no one we would rather have leading @HouseDemocrats!” exclaimed the National Republican Congressional Committee in a tweet, adding the hashtags “#StandWithNancy” #ThanksHouseDems” for good measure.
Congrats @NancyPelosi! There’s no one we would rather have leading @HouseDemocrats! #StandWithNancy #ThanksHouseDems pic.twitter.com/ZKqEmGHXsr
— NRCC (@NRCC) November 30, 2016
This came nearly two weeks after the NRCC endorsed Pelosi to keep her post and only a day after they hung a sign outside the Republican National Committee reading “Hire Pelosi” — a play on the RNC’s 2010 campaign slogan “Fire Pelosi.”
The president-elect’s office also reacted favorably to the news. Kellyanne Conway, a top adviser to Trump, celebrated the news after Pelosi topped Ryan in the vote, which took place early Wednesday afternoon.
“What a relief. I was worried they had learned from the elections & might be competitive and cohesive again,” Conway tweeted. Transition team spokesman Sean Spicer also chimed in, saying that while Pelosi won, the “real winner” was the NRCC.
What a relief. I was worried they had learned from the elections & might be competitive and cohesive again. https://t.co/cvwi0IxLdU
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) November 30, 2016
Karl Rove, a former top aide to President George W. Bush, took the news a step further, saying that the icing on the cake could come in March if the liberal Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., takes over as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Congrats to House Dems for reelecting Nancy Pelosi! Helps advance GOP cause enormously. Ellison for DNC chair next please!
— Karl Rove (@KarlRove) November 30, 2016
“Congrats to House Dems for reelecting Nancy Pelosi! Helps advance GOP cause enormously,” Rove wrote in a tweet. “Ellison for DNC chair next please!
Some Republicans in Congress also followed the lead of House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who has been outspoken about his hope that Pelosi would return to Democratic leadership.
It is only 25 days until Christmas and House Dems reelected Nancy Pelosi today as Minority Leader. Thank you Saint Nick.
— Rep. Mark Walker (@RepMarkWalker) November 30, 2016
“It is only 25 days until Christmas and House Dems reelected Nancy Pelosi today as Minority Leader,” wrote Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., adding “Thank you Saint Nick.”
Last week, McCarthy pressed that he wanted Pelosi to defeat Ryan, predicting that Republicans would hold onto their majority in the chamber as long as she is in power. He followed up on those comments Tuesday, telling the Washington Post that Pelosi has more support among the GOP caucus than amongst her own party.
“I think Nancy has more support among the Republican caucus for her to stay leader than maybe in her own conference, I’m not sure,” McCarthy said with a smile, repeating his claim from last week about her support amongst Republicans.
“Oh, I firmly believe that. Don’t you notice that there’s always some people in the Senate that always stay one term too long? And a term in the Senate is like six years. I kind of feel like Nancy is at that point,” McCarthy said, smiling once more. “But I want to help her. I think that’s a good place for her to be, and I think it’s very helpful for us to stay in the majority.”
