As the opposition forces against Nancy Pelosi’s bid for House Speaker may be starting to see fissures in the ranks, some fierce holdouts have made their distaste for the establishment Democrat known.
According to Fox News, a total of 16 U.S. House Democrats circulated a letter on Monday declaring themselves “Never Nancy” while calling for “new leadership” without saying who that new leader should be.
The letter cordially begins by thanking Pelosi for her years of service as House Speaker before calling for a “change” in leadership.
“We are thankful to Leader Pelosi for her years of service to our Country and to our Caucus. She is a historic figure whose leadership has been instrumental to some of our party’s most important legislative achievements,” the letter says. “However, we also recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran and won on a message of change.”
The letter goes on to say that the outcome of the recent midterm proves that Americans want “real change.”
“Our majority came on the backs of candidates who said that they would support new leadership because voters in hard-won districts, and across the country want to see real change in Washington,” it continued. “We promised to change the status quo, and we intend to deliver on that promise. We are committed to voting for new leadership in both our Caucus meeting and on the House floor.”
Among the signers were Pelosi challenger Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), and Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA). Several incoming lawmakers also signed the letter, including Joe Cunningham of South Carolina. Rep. Ben McAdams (D-UT) signed the letter, but that may be rendered meaningless if Republican Mia Love continues to hold her lead over him in their still uncalled midterm race.
While Pelosi is prepared to fight opposition and campaign against those who wish to run against her, a source close to Congress told Fox News she is “not spiteful.”
“The political repercussions for trying to block Pelosi will be more pronounced outside the Congress than inside,” a congressional source said. “Outside, for the past two years, voters have organized themselves with great energy and passion to take back the House. Blocking Pelosi will be viewed by many as disruptive to the progress so many worked so hard to make.”
Pelosi would be unable to secure the House Speaker position if 17 Democrats vote against her on the floor. For the gavel, she needs to win a majority in the Democratic Caucus and then an absolute majority in the House.
Exactly who would replace Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker remains to be seen. One potential candidate is Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), who castigated Pelosi as a wealthy elitist in an interview with The Huffington Post last week.
“I don’t have a pitch because at this point I’ve not decided I’m going to run,” Fudge said, “but I would say this: My concern about the caucus is the same concern I have about the country. Just as there is this undertone of racism in the country, there’s also that in our caucus.”
“And so I’m saying, what is wrong with acknowledging the fact that the Democratic Party is becoming more young, more black, and more brown?” Fudge continued. “And letting that be reflected in our leadership.”
“She’s a very wealthy person. She raises a lot of money from a lot of other wealthy people. Everybody wants to give her such big credit for winning back the House, and she should be here because she won. She didn’t win it by herself.”