Rep. Fudge: I won’t challenge Pelosi for speaker

WASHINGTON — Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge, the top potential rival to Nancy Pelosi for House speaker, dropped out of the running Tuesday, delivering a blow to efforts to topple the California Democrat.

Fudge announced her decision just as Pelosi said she was naming the Ohio congresswoman as incoming chair of a newly revived elections subcommittee that will delve into voting rights access, a top priority of the new Democratic majority. The move also came the same day Fudge faced questions over her past support for a man now suspected of stabbing his ex-wife.

Her consideration to run for speaker, Fudge said, was in part to “ensure diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of the House.” She was “now confident that we will move forward together,” she said in a statement.

As a former chairwoman of the influential Congressional Black Caucus, Fudge noted she was assured by Pelosi that black women, in particular, “will have a seat at the decision-making table.”

Pelosi’s move to revive the elections subcommittee of the House Administration Committee is an example of the reach of the leader’s office to dole out plum assignments to lawmakers — or withhold them — as she works to shore up votes to become speaker.

Pelosi said Fudge has been a “driving force in our voter protection efforts” and in her new position the congresswoman will “play a critical role in our Democratic Majority’s efforts to ensure access to the ballot box for all Americans.”

Pelosi kick-started the committee that had been dormant for the past few years under the GOP majority and handed the gavel to Fudge.

The turn of events comes as Democratic lawmakers are on Thanksgiving recess ahead of a closed-door vote next week on new leadership.

Democrats are expected to vote Pelosi as their nominee for speaker, but it’s unclear if she has enough support from her ranks when the full House votes in January.

Pelosi’s bid was boosted Tuesday by praise from former President Barack Obama.