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Can Nancy Pelosi Survive a Challenge From Within Her Own Party?

A coalition of Democrats is building who are pushing for change in leadership, banking on recent election success as a sign of the demand for change.

Sixteen House Democrats have sworn to oppose Rep. Nancy Pelosi as the next House Speaker. The Democrats vow to stand against Pelosi in an internal caucus election and on Jan. 3. The opposition includes 11 current representatives, four newly elected House members, and Ben McAdams who is competing against Republican Rep. Mia Love in a too-close-to-call race.

The 16 opposing Democrats made their intentions known in a letter sent to other members. The letter read that the signatories were “committed to voting for new leadership” rather than have Pelosi reclaim the position again. The letter notes that the Democrats had earlier promised to keep Pelosi out, and they will be seeing the promise through.

“We are thankful to Leader Pelosi for her years of service to our Country and to our Caucus,” they wrote. “However, we also recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran on and won on a message of change.”

With 232 seats already won by Democrats, and five House races still uncalled, Pelosi can only afford to lose between 14 and 19 Democratic votes and still clinch the position. While the House Minority Leader contends that her colleagues want her out because she is a woman, the opposing members said this is far from the truth since they won the majority leadership based on the prospect of “change.”

Pelosi is banking on the support of the majority of her party members to see herself back as House Speaker. She is also resting on the will of thousands of fans on and outside Capitol Hill, with several liberal advocacy groups campaigning for her in light of her legislative and fundraising achievements. One major consideration for her supporters is her ability to confront Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell or even President Donald Trump.

All hope for Pelosi, however, is not lost with Pelosi in the face of the 16 opposing members. If she can get the members to vote “present,” the rebellious group would succeed at not voting for her, but their votes would reduce the Democratic votes required to achieve her goals.

The opposing members include

  • Jim Cooper of Tennessee
  • Bill Foster of Illinois
  • Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts
  • Ed Perlmutter of Colorado
  • Kathleen Rice of New York
  • Brian Higgins of New York
  • Tim Ryan of Ohio
  • Linda Sanchez of California
  • Kurt Schrader of Oregon
  • Filemon Vela of Texas
  • Rep.-elect Anthony Brindisi
  • Max Rose of New York
  • Joe Cunningham of South Carolina
  • Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey
  • Seth Moulton of Massachusetts
  • Ben McAdams of Utah

It must, however, be noted that some others opposing Pelosi have chosen not to sign the letter, so they’re not counted as part of the 16. These include Rep.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.) and Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) among others.

A secret ballot will take place on Nov. 28 when House Democrats nominate a new speaker, but a final vote isn’t until Jan. 3 after the new Congress convenes for the first time. While Pelosi may perform well on Nov. 28, her performance and emergence as new House Speaker on Jan. 3 is still very uncertain.

 

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52 Comments

  1. Tere Calderon November 26, 2018

    YES YES

    Reply
  2. Cheryl Claytor November 26, 2018

    Yes

    Reply
  3. Howard Stokes November 26, 2018

    Yes

    Reply
  4. Judy Cooper November 26, 2018

    YES!

    Reply
  5. Daniel Malloy November 26, 2018

    Nancy is a Fighter and a Survivor!

    Reply
  6. Olga I. Rodriguez November 26, 2018

    Ultimately I think Democrats deserve to lose! How do they expect to unite the Country again when they can’t have unity among themselves in critical times no less!!!

    Reply
  7. Dave Martin November 26, 2018

    Time to go Nancy

    Reply
    1. IvraRosemary Naylor November 26, 2018

      Dave Martin , Yes she can and will be the leader because we have too many old men trying to tell a woman who much more intelligent and smarter then they are. It’s called being a male chauvinist.

    2. Dave Martin November 26, 2018

      IvraRosemary Naylor oh don’t bring up that bullshit. She’s had here run time for new blood

    3. Dave Martin November 26, 2018

      Oh don’t bring up that bullshit. She had her run. We need new blood. Man or woman.

    4. Dave Martin November 26, 2018

      IvraRosemary Naylor

    5. Dave Martin November 26, 2018

      Oh that’s bullshit. Don’t bring that male crap. The party needs new blood male or female. Don’t ever call me that. I was out there long before you shot off your ignorant mouth

    6. Dave Martin November 26, 2018

      Screw You

    7. Dave Martin November 26, 2018

      IvraRosemary Naylor fuck you

    8. Dave Martin November 26, 2018

      Shut the fuck up

  8. Antonio Lagunas November 26, 2018

    YES, she is much more qualified than any of them DEMS????????

    Reply
  9. Carol Funk November 26, 2018

    She is a smart lady has the knowledge and know how to deal with repubs. Too many men do not like smart ladies. Do not want her in job. Dems could regret that if they put an inexperienced person in her place

    Reply
  10. Patricia Walton November 26, 2018

    Yes cause we need her ??

    Reply
  11. Ferne Fitzpatrick Carbo November 26, 2018

    She is tough…she will survive and be the next Speaker of the House!!!!!

    Reply
  12. Larry L. Cunningham November 26, 2018

    Not the time to make a change! Need experience and success record!

    Reply
  13. Kathy Holley November 26, 2018

    Yes! They will come together!

    Reply
  14. Susan Dow November 26, 2018

    Don’t know but we are about to find out.

    Reply
  15. Jean Clifton Young November 26, 2018

    Yes because she is needed

    Reply
  16. Donna Rae Mathre November 26, 2018

    yes she can

    Reply
  17. Jeannie Gillespie November 26, 2018

    Time to crash and burn

    Reply
  18. Stone Branham November 26, 2018

    Yes. The fear is from 5 white men who believe Trump and Pence will be removed and they want one of them to become president and not her.

    Reply
  19. Ernest Bratley November 26, 2018

    That’s True Democracy for you . Let them vote ?

    Reply
  20. Johnny Osterdock November 26, 2018

    at lest she can’t be bought

    Reply
  21. John Munz November 26, 2018

    I really wish someone else in the DFL had the gumshun to be tge next speaker of the house because change is Good.

    Reply
  22. Charlene Branch Lincoln November 26, 2018

    I hope so

    Reply
  23. Charlene Branch Lincoln November 26, 2018

    We can’t afford to put a rookie in that spot we need an experienced person

    Reply
  24. Sheri Baart November 26, 2018

    This is one of the biggest problems for democrats…they never stand together! She proven her ability so stop the nonsense and stand together!

    Reply
  25. Nick Wilson November 26, 2018

    She survived since the Jurassic era, so I think she will do fine.

    Reply
  26. Beatriz Salinas November 26, 2018

    Has trump? Of course she’s the only one that can keep it going! If these new democrats fight for removing her you were not a true democrate to start with! Do the job your constituents send you to do in Congress! ???

    Reply
  27. William Smith November 26, 2018

    She’s horrible

    Reply
  28. Margie Emack November 26, 2018

    Just like the Dems! , they work so hard to get ahead ,then shoot themselves in the foot when they get there!

    Reply
  29. Margie Emack November 26, 2018

    Stop fighting! Let Nancy do her magic like she has done before and did it well!

    Reply
  30. Margie Emack November 26, 2018

    This is what the Republicans want the dems to do , get rid of Nancy!

    Reply
  31. Louise Dodson November 26, 2018

    You betcha!

    Reply
  32. Kathi Goff November 26, 2018

    Absolutely…..we need her….trust me the right wants her gone, because she gets things done….!!! That’s why she must be the House Leader!!

    Reply
  33. Paula Ball November 26, 2018

    Who cares

    Reply
  34. Shayna Alterman November 26, 2018

    Yessssss! I love Nancy.

    Reply
  35. Ronald Christensen November 26, 2018

    She is the best, so she should come out on top and do a very good job for us !
    Democrats must want to lose another Election fighting amongst themselves! Don’t they Ever learn a damn thing ??????

    Reply
  36. Eugene Stepney III November 26, 2018

    Democrats MUST stand together and get rid of that cancer Trump and his whole administration!

    Reply
  37. Allen Arrasmith November 26, 2018

    Easily

    Reply
  38. Walter Brewer November 26, 2018

    SURE…SHES BEEN TRIED AND TESTED…SHE WILL WIN..LETS VOTE….

    Reply
  39. Frank Cromis November 26, 2018

    Sure she puts fear in them.

    Reply
  40. Thomas Hale November 27, 2018

    Obamacare kills poor elderly Americans, Exodus 22:22-24, Revelation 21:8

    Reply
  41. Wilbur Elledge November 27, 2018

    She’s a nut case. We have to pass this bill so we can see what’s in it. Said the dumbest lefty ever.

    Reply
  42. Patricia Mathews Ray November 27, 2018

    I hope so. We need to work together.

    Reply
  43. Neil Douglas Brashear November 27, 2018

    The lady is senile. We need someone else.

    Reply
  44. June Lysell November 27, 2018

    I hope so!!!! She knows what to do at this time better than anyone!!! You don’t throw a first grader in to do a college graduates job!!! She does know how to control the game with experience!!!!

    Reply

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