Horn mum on Pelosi vote
U.S. Rep.-elect Kendra Horn remains mum on whether she will vote for Nancy Pelosi to be the Speaker of the House in two weeks.
In a brief interview Sunday, Horn said she is not prepared to make any public statements on the matter. Horn declined to say whether she voted for Pelosi behind closed doors last month when the Democratic Party chose her as their nominee.
“That was a secret ballot vote,” Horn said of the Nov. 28 party election.
Pelosi, a California Democrat, received 203 votes in favor and 32 votes in opposition at that time. The 78-year-old has worked to quell a rebellion among Democrats who favor a fresher face in the speaker’s seat.
Horn, an Oklahoma City Democrat, has remained in the middle, making clear her preference for new Democratic leadership but stopping short of joining the anti-Pelosi crowd. On Sunday, Horn said she is pleased with a recent agreement between Pelosi and her critics that prevents Pelosi from serving as speaker beyond 2022.
“The idea of limiting leadership positions to a finite amount of time encourages other people to come up into those positions and have experience stepping into positions of leadership,” Horn said.
“We’ve got a lot of really strong people who have come in, and it gives the new leaders a pathway to see what they can contribute. I’m excited about the outcome and I’m excited to see the progress of coming together.”
Horn defeated Rep. Steve Russell on Nov. 6 and will take office during the first week in January. The vote for speaker will occur Jan. 3. Unlike the Democratic caucus election, it will be a public vote.