Here's What You Need To Know About Pelosi's Potential Dem Challenger for Speaker's Gavel
Democrats will retake the majority in—and control of—the House of Representatives on Jan. 3, and a Democratic congresswoman is considering challenging House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for speaker.
Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, has said she is open to the idea of challenging Pelosi, who wielded the speaker’s gavel from 2007 to 2011, and hopes to again when the 116th Congress convenes in the new year.
“I’m still thinking about it,” Fudge told CNN on Thursday night, adding that she has been “overwhelmed” by the number of her fellow House Democrats who have encouraged her to run.
Fudge, 66, has represented Ohio’s 11th Congressional District since 2008.
Leadership elections for House Democrats are slated for Nov. 29.
.@HouseDemocrats are expected to vote on leadership Nov. 29! https://t.co/u2xJEtuqB4
— Rachel del Guidice (@LRacheldG) November 16, 2018
House Republicans on Nov. 14 tapped Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as the next House minority leader.
Pelosi met with Fudge on Friday, calling it “a candid and respectful conversation,” CNN reported.
Fudge said that “Pelosi did not ask her specifically … not to run,” according to CNN.
Here are five things to know about the woman who could challenge Pelosi for the speakership.
1. Fudge Says Pelosi Is ‘Responsible’ for Losing Seats in the House
Fudge has been critical of Pelosi, saying Thursday that the California lawmaker was responsible for losing seats in the House in 2010 and thereafter.
“She didn’t do this by herself,” Fudge said, The Hill reported, referring to Democrats’ regaining control of the House in last week’s midterm elections. “She also was the person who over the last eight years lost seats. It’s one thing to give people credit for winning if you also make them responsible for losing.”
According to The Wall Street Journal, Fudge “has been in touch with a small group of incumbent lawmakers who oppose Pelosi’s leadership—not on ideological lines, but on the grounds that she has served as leader of the caucus for too long and should step aside and allow newer members to move up.”
2. She Backs Impeaching President Donald Trump
Fudge signed on with a group of liberal Democratic colleagues who in November 2017 filed articles of impeachment against Trump.
“In the nearly 300 days since he was sworn in, it has become evident that President Trump is a clear and present danger to our democracy,” Fudge said in a statement last November.
“It is high time that Congress take a serious look at the president’s actions. If those actions are found to be in violation of the Constitution, then the Congress of the United States needs to do the job the American people elected us to do.”
3. She Says Blacks Need to Have a More Prominent Role in Democrats’ Leadership
“When you look at the people who support this party the most, they are women and African-Americans, and especially African-American women,” said Fudge, who is black.
“We keep talking about diversity, but there is nothing diverse about the top of our ticket,” she said. “We have to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk.”
On its face, that would seem to slight Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., who is also black. He has served as assistant Democratic leader, the No. 3 post in the House party leadership, since 2011 and before that as House majority whip.
Clyburn reportedly has secured enough votes from his fellow Democrats to take the third-ranking position in the House when the party takes over Jan. 3.
4. She Supported Hillary Clinton for President
Fudge supported Hillary Clinton’s run for president in 2016.
“I stand [with] Hillary because she understands America is only as strong as its people,” Fudge tweeted in February 2016. “She has been advocating for the [African-American] community for years.”
5. She Would Focus on Infrastructure, Student Loans, and Pre-Existing Medical Conditions as Speaker
According to Cleveland.com, Fudge plans to work on ensuring health care coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions, addressing student loan debt, and improving the nation’s infrastructure.
Rachel del Guidice is a reporter for The Daily Signal. She is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Forge Leadership Network, and The Heritage Foundation’s Young Leaders Program. Send an email to Rachel.
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