A new report from Politico has revealed that Democrats recently met to discuss House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s future as the leader of the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party seems to be in disarray especially after the disastrous elections that many had expected to expose Trump’s weaknesses, however, it did quite the opposite.
About a dozen Democrats, led by Representatives Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.), Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), and Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), spoke about how the hopes of retaking the House of Representatives from Republicans would go down the drain if Pelosi was still in charge of their group.
“There are many more people today, even from November, who are much more vocal, who have approached us and said, ‘I’m done. We need to move forward and we need to get a new leadership team in place,” Rice said.
Pelosi, in response, rejected criticism by flaunting her achievements, saying, “Well, I’m a master legislator. I am a strategic, politically astute leader. … My leadership is recognized by many around the country, and that is why I’m able to attract the support that I do, which is essential to our elections.”
“We don’t agonize, we organize,” she concluded.
Rep. Rice disagreed, saying, “There is a consensus, I think, that we can reach in the caucus that allows for a new leadership team to be put in place in a time that’s well before, hopefully, November of next year.”
The discussions regarding replacing Pelosi comes on the back of the Democrats’ recent defeat in the special election in Georgia. Democrats were of the opinion that Trump’s low favorability might come to show in the special elections; however, all expectations regarding the special elections have been dashed with a clean sweep in four elections.
Most of the blame has been shifted towards Pelosi. Karen Handel, winner of the special election in Georgia, while campaigning, made sure that she clearly showed the connection of her opponent, Democratic candidate Jon Ossof, to the House Minority Leader. Being the most expensive House election in US history, especially for Democrats, it was more painful for them.
The division in the Democratic Party is now more apparent than ever. Even President Trump took to Twitter, to mock the infighting between party members, saying, “I certainly hope the Democrats do not force Nancy P out. That would be very bad for the Republican Party – and please let Cryin’ Chuck stay!”
Another lawmaker said that the Democrats’ image has become “toxic” in several parts of the country. He further elaborated that this was even worse than Trump’s image.