House Democrats to Vote on Leadership as Nancy Pelosi Faces Challenger

That leader remains Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, who was reelected to the minority leader position over Ohio’s Tim Ryan on a 134 to 63 vote.

The leadership race was the most hard for Pelosi in the almost 10 years since she became the first woman speaker of the House and the highest-ranking elected woman in the USA government.

“However, I believe Leader Pelosi is best suited to address the challenges our Caucus and nation will face and ensure that our economy works for everyone”, she said. Maryland representative Steny Hoyer, 77, will continue to serve as Democratic whip, and South Carolina’s Jim Clyburn, 76, will continue in the number three spot as assistant leader. She predicted she’d get two-thirds.

Ohio’s Rep. Marcia C. Kaptur said in the end Pelosi prevailed because of her unparalleled ability to raise cash for House and the personal relationships she has built over the years-always treating her members with respect even when they disagreed with her.

“We had a pure social, cultural agenda for this election cycle”. The efficacy of the ruling party typically plays an important role in deciding down ballot races, so the first two years of Donald Trump’s administration may have a deciding factor in the Democrats’ success.

Wednesday’s election ensures that the party will be lead by coastal Democrats, with Pelosi serving alongside Senator Chuck Schumer of NY. A spokesman for Rep. Brendan Boyle, also of Philadelphia, said the congressman also supported Pelosi.

Every Democratic House member from the region said they backed Pelosi for another term leading the caucus, helping her beat back a challenge from Rep. Tim Ryan, an Ohioan who called for a change and stronger focus on the working-class voters that propelled Donald Trump to the White House.

Former Speaker Pelosi has also established herself as the world’s worst election prognosticator.

Ryan mounted his challenge following Democrats’ poor showing the November 8 election, arguing the party needed “a new voice” in leadership.

“Thank you House Dems – we appreciate you keeping @NancyPelosi as your leader!” he tweeted. Ryan offered fresh blood in the wake of a hard election cycle, but he struggled to compete with Pelosi’s established track record.

She disputed the suggestion that she might be concerned about the defections she suffered. “We need our leader to be seasoned, tough”.

“And let me just say, Leader Pelosi has been here a long time”. The election results showed a party that is buoyed by support from coastal states and failed to appeal to the working class voters who were once central to its winning coalition.

Other top leadership posts are uncontested, with Steny Hoyer of Maryland expected to stay in the No. 2 job of whip, and Jim Clyburn of SC in the No. 3 position of assistant leader.

Pelosi hasn’t been publicly challenged since, even as disappointing elections continued for House Democrats.