More than two dozen House Democrats have asked their leaders to postpone this week’s leadership elections in the wake of the 2016 election that saw Democrats fall far short of the gains in the House and Senate that most expected.
Led by Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, at least 25 Democrats have signed on to a letter officially asking Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California to push back elections scheduled for Thursday.
Calling last week’s elections “devastating,” Moulton wrote in his unsent letter, “It is evident … that the difficult situation in which our caucus now finds itself requires a much more extensive conversation between members and our elected leadership.”
Moulton is not challenging Pelosi, or calling for her removal as leader of the House Democratic Caucus. But another group of lawmakers is seeking to oust her, and have suggested Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, as a replacement.
“Congressman Ryan is flattered that a growing number of members of the Democratic caucus have called on him to run for leader,” said Michael Zetts, a spokesman for Ryan, told CNN. “He understands that many members are deeply concerned about the future of the Democratic Party and caucus. He watched many traditional Democrats leave our party and he is concerned that if changes aren’t made we will be in the political wilderness for many years to come.”
Pelosi has not commented on Ryan’s possible challenge or Moulton’s unsent letter, beyond confirming Friday in a letter to her members that Thursday’s elections will proceed as planned.
“I appreciate hearing views on how and when we go forward,” Pelosi said, referring to a conference call she had with lawmakers the day after the election. “Members have indicated a strong desire to proceed with elections next week in order to prepare forcefully for the lame-duck session and the challenges we will face in January. Therefore, the leadership elections will be held on Thursday.”
In addition to Pelosi, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland, Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn of South Carolina and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra of California are seeking to retain their leadership positions. But Moulton said leaders and members should have a deeper conversation before those decisions are made.
Zetts said that Ryan also wants the leadership elections delayed and sent her a personal note Sunday evening saying so. Ryan also “has never had the ambition to run for leader, but after last week’s election results and the conversations he has had with his colleagues, he is open to the idea,” Zetts said.
“He loves and has the highest respect for Leader Pelosi,” Zetts said. “He considers her a friend and mentor, and played a major part in her team that helped us take back the House in 2006 by running the then-Thirty-something Working Group. And while he has not made any decisions about a leadership run, he strongly believes that the American people are asking for big changes and we need to figure out how best to deliver on their requests,” Zetts said.
“It is vital that our caucus take the time to listen to the American people and learn the lessons of this difficult election in order to put our caucus in the best position to fight the potentially dangerous agenda of President-elect Donald Trump and to have a realistic chance of taking back the House in 2018,” the Moulton letter said.
“Therefore, we ask that you postpone leadership elections at least until after the Thanksgiving recess,” Moulton continues. “We feel very strongly that our members deserve the opportunity to thoroughly discuss the results of the election and analyze how our party and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s strategy fell so short of our goals.”
Up until the weekend, only some Republicans were grumbling about the leadership elections happening so soon after lawmakers returned to Washington from a seven-week recess.
House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin has dismissed those calls, saying the House Republican Conference will select its leaders Tuesday morning as scheduled.
