OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
A growing number of Democrats are voicing doubts about whether they want Nancy Pelosi to continue in her role as Speaker or even leader of their party following the midterms.
Democrats are widely expected to lose control of the House, meaning they will have an opportunity to ditch Pelosi and replace her with new blood. But not all Democrats are ready to do so.
According to CNN, Pelosi initially agreed in 2018 to step down in four years, but thus far, she has made no public or private remarks indicating she will stick to the unwritten bargain, or even if she’ll be made to:
The 2018 deal Pelosi agreed to with dissident members limiting her to four more years as speaker was an informal agreement, and caucus rules were never changed imposing any time limits on her tenure. Several members told CNN that if the midterms go well for their party, a combination of shocked euphoria and deference to both her fundraising prowess and the importance of female voters, could make them reconsider.
Several noted, though, that a surprising victory in holding the majority might be the perfect time for the exit that Pelosi has said she originally planned to make six years ago if Hillary Clinton won the presidency, and that any decision to stay would have to come with a clear timetable for leaving.
If Democrats do manage to keep the House, several members opined that they would continue to support her as Speaker, including those who are running tight races in newly vulnerable districts.
Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, whose border district has been overrun with illegal migrants since President Biden took office, nevertheless is counting on Pelosi to help him keep his seat and has said that he would “support her for whatever position,” CNN noted.
Another potentially vulnerable Texas Democrat, Rep. Vincente Gonzalez, said if Dems keep the House majority, Pelosi will “deserve” to keep her leadership position, “it’s as simple as that.” However, if the party loses the majority, as expected, that will be a “dynamics change” and that “changes the game,” he added.
However, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who has voted in the past for Pelosi as Speaker and has said she is “one of the most extraordinary Speakers in history,” went on to say: “It’s time for generational diversity of our leadership ranks – regardless of the outcome of the election.”
And Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J) added: “I certainly have long thought it’s time for new leadership…She’s done an incredible job, but we really do need to grow new leaders.”
“When you have the top three people in our caucus in their 80s. … There does need to be a new generation coming up and starting to lead. And that’s something that I think the Democratic Party shouldn’t be afraid of,” Sherrill added.
Another anonymous Dem told CNN, however: “She has to go.”
But any hopes that the party will keep the House appear to have been shattered last week by another top Democrat, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer of New York.
Fox News noted:
Schumer and six other Democratic senators were spotted dining at Trattoria Alberto, a swanky Italian restaurant in Washington, on Monday evening, and the group was talking loud enough to be heard by other patrons, according to Punchbowl News. Schumer reportedly expressed confidence that Democrats would keep the Senate come November but said Republicans had a 60% chance of taking the House.
Schumer also weighed in on a series of other topics, arguing that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy “sucked up” to former President Donald Trump. He also stated his belief that Trump will run for president again in 2024.
The news comes weeks after reports that Speaker Pelosi has a new job in mind if Democrats are defeated and Republicans gain control of the House.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported that another top Dem, Rep. Adam Schiff, also of California, has been quietly gauging support for making him the leader of the party.
The outlet reported that Schiff is “focused on consolidating support among his home base” in California, but that he “has not made an explicit ask for endorsements.”
