Democrats back Pelosi for speaker
Critics within party had called for fresh leadership
WASHINGTON – Nancy Pelosi won support from a majority of Democrats on Wednesday to be House speaker, marking an important milestone in her quest to lead the House when her party takes majority control of the chamber in January.
The Democratic caucus vote in favor of Pelosi, who served as the first woman speaker from 2007 to 2011, brings her a step closer to the gavel that many expect her to regain.
But becoming Madame Speaker might not be easy. Though she ran uncontested, Democrats who oppose her called for fresh leadership and a change in the “status quo.”
Pelosi faces a final test in January when the full House votes on leadership. To become speaker, she will need support from a majority of the full House – 218, if all members vote.
“Are their dissents? Yes,” Pelosi said after receiving her party’s nomination. “But I expect to have a powerful vote as we go forward.”
Once undecided midterm election results are called, Democrats could have as many as 235 members in the House, which would mean she could afford to lose 17 of their votes in January if all Republicans voted against her.
In Wednesday’s vote, 32 Democrats voted against her and three did not vote.
But Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., predicted the party will unify when voting publicly on the House floor in January.
“More people are coming off the ‘Never Pelosi’ letter than are going on it,” Swalwell said of lawmakers who previously withheld their support. “I think the momentum is in her direction.”
Shortly before Wednesday’s vote, Pelosi reached a deal with a group of moderate holdouts led by New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer. The nine Democrats from the Problem Solvers Caucus had threatened to withhold their votes for Pelosi unless she agreed to change rules to make it easier to pass bills that have broad bipartisan support.
After going back and forth with Pelosi for weeks, the group said Wednesday it will support Pelosi so the changes she agreed to can be adopted in January.
“She has proven herself to be a force to be reckoned with and someone willing to listen to the diverse voices that make the Democratic Caucus great,” said Florida Rep. Stephanie Murphy.
Another minirebellion came from a bloc of more than a dozen Democratic lawmakers who signed a letter Nov. 19 saying they would vote for new leadership, both in their caucus meeting and on the House floor, in favor of a change in the “status quo.” Their ranks are in flux.
Pelosi’s fight for the gavel comes on the heels of Democrats winning up to 40 seats to take control of the House after eight years under Republican rule.
Many of those wins came from more diverse suburban districts that had once supported President Donald Trump.
“Let’s just take a moment to dwell on the fact that we are in the majority,” Pelosi said. “Majority. Majority. Majority.”