Battle for Congressional Minority Leader: Tim Ryan to Challenge Nancy Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi for the role of House minority leader.

Also reportedly weighing a challenge is Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., 54, the fifth-ranking Democratic leaders.

It’ll be tough to oust Pelosi – the minority leader has built up a loyal support base during her 14-year tenure as caucus leader.

She cited history, noting that the president’s party historically loses seats in mid-term elections. She easily beat back North Carolina Rep. Heath Shuler 150-43 after the party lost the majority in 2010.

Ryan said that despite Pelosi’s claim that she has the necessary two-thirds votes to secure her seat, he believes many Democrats are looking for a new direction for the party.

Ryan isn’t so sure.

“I’m listening”, he said, declining further comment.

Ryan, who is from a state that Trump won, noted in his letter that Democrats have controlled the chamber only twice in the last 18 years.

Ryan’s name has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the position since Democrats suffered unexpected losses in last Tuesday’s election.

“We must proceed with a clear vision, firm values and innovative strategy”, she wrote in her letter to House colleagues.

Several top Democrats on powerful committees have been atop their posts for many years – well into their 80s in some cases – and are not some of the party’s most vibrant voices.

A chorus of Democrats has voiced deep concerns in recent days that the party is losing working-class, Rust Belt voters – the same demographic that launched Trump to surprise victories in states like MI and Wisconsin. Just a few hours before, Crowley had evaded questions about whether he too would challenge Pelosi. “And so we got to make the argument to them that Democrats are the party for them”. It’s not limited to any one caucus. Our constituents deserve nothing less. “These qualities took us to victory in 2006 and I believe they will do so again”. Pelosi said Comey’s letter to Congress was a “foul deed”.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney of NY, a close friend and supporter of Pelosi’s, stood by her leader, criticizing those who are quick to diagnose the problem. “So we have an opportunity”. “I know how to get it done”. Leadership elections are November 30. During the gathering, a number of young lawmakers amplified their earlier cries for a strategic overhaul.

Among those who pushed for the delay: Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton, who told WBUR’s Morning Edition that more time was needed. “What we need is a truly collaborative effort”.

Ryan says there’s a lot of anxiety in the caucus and a lot of people want some change.

Rhode Island’s two Democratic congressmen are taking different approaches to the fight roiling their caucus over whether House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi should remain as their leader.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. leaves after her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016.

“I never said “of unanimity” but I did say ‘unified, ‘” Pelosi said.