Pelosi takes a hands-off role in House Dem fights
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at Howard University on Nov. 6, 2024. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is charting a new, more detached course for working her will on the Democratic caucus she once ruled with an iron fist, numerous lawmakers familiar with the matter tell Axios.
Why it matters: Pelosi's colleagues described a laissez faire approach to backing candidates in committee leadership elections that gives House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) space to settle into his role.
- During her reign, Pelosi "would actively have her hands on these races" and would "prevent them from even happening" in some cases, said one veteran House Democrat.
- "That's not what happened here. I think it is a different model," the lawmaker added.
- "If folks are looking for this narrative that Nancy Pelosi was behind the curtain orchestrating [things], I don't think that happened," said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.).
Driving the news: Pelosi encouraged several committee ranking member candidates to jump into their races – but her choices racked up a mixed record on Tuesday when House Democrats met to vote on contested roles.
- Huffman was elected ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee – though his one rival, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), dropped out before the vote.
- Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) defeated Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to become Oversight Committee ranking member with Pelosi's endorsement.
- Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.), another Pelosi-backed Californian, lost to Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) in the race to lead the Agriculture Committee.
Zoom in: Pelosi was physically absent from the elections due to a hip replacement surgery she received in Germany over the weekend after a fall during a congressional trip.
- Still, former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Pelosi's longtime deputy, said in a speech supporting Costa that he spoke for the former speaker as well, multiple lawmakers in the room told Axios.
What they're saying: Huffman told Axios after the elections that he and others have gone to Pelosi "for her counsel," but that her role as a booster largely ended with her encouraging candidates to run.
- Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), who spoke on behalf of Connolly, said of Pelosi's support for the Virginian: "I don't think it was a factor."
- "I mean, it's a good factor when anybody plays a role. But, look, you heard Steny in another race say that the speaker emerita was [supporting Costa], and that was a different result," he added.
- An Ocasio-Cortez ally told Axios they "haven't heard people talking so much" about Pelosi's role and that the frustration in AOC's camp is focused on certain other top House Democrats who backed Connolly.
Between the lines: Pelosi did some campaigning for her candidates, as Axios has reported. But numerous House Democrats said Tuesday that activity appeared to be fairly limited and fell short of a true whip operation.
- "As one of her strong supporters, she never said anything to me," said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), positing that there were "some overstatements about ... this theory [that] she had to have her hands in some of this."
- Said a senior House Democrat: "I did not have a conversation with the former speaker at all, and ... if she was a part of it, I wasn't aware of it."
- Another senior House Democrat told Axios they "didn't hear about any calls," and, noting Pelosi's hip replacement surgery, said that "of course she was not in much of a position to make calls the last week."
Yes, but: Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), a vocal Connolly ally, argued Pelosi's backing of Connolly still "definitely helped" him consolidate support.
- "And [Hoyer] too," he said. "Two very respected people who have been in leadership for 20-plus years."
