Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, in recent days built up a lot of momentum as a potential challenger to Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for the throne of House Democrats and wielder of the speaker’s gavel.

On Monday, Fudge signed a letter with 16 other House Democrats who pledged not to vote for Pelosi for speaker, possibly derailing her chance of being the first House Democrat to win back the speakership since Sam Rayburn in 1955. Fudge has publicly mulled running for speaker. And she’s an ideal choice, as someone who can count on at least some support from the Congressional Black Caucus, a group both influential and essential within the House Democratic Caucus.