WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Sixteen Democratic members of Congress vowed on Monday to oppose fellow Democrat Nancy Pelosi’s bid to become speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, but none of them openly said they would run against her.
They were not joined by Representative Marcia Fudge of Ohio, the only potential Pelosi rival to emerge so far from the party’s rank and file.
As Democrats wrestle with the choice of speaker for 2019-2020, Pelosi has argued that even at the age of 78 she is best qualified, rejecting some younger Democrats’ argument that a new generation of leaders was needed.
But she still faces no clear challenger to her power.
Fourteen men and two women signed a letter saying they believed “the time has come for new leadership in our caucus.”
They included Representatives Tim Ryan of Ohio, who unsuccessfully challenged Pelosi for Democratic leader in 2016, and Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, an outspoken critic.
Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said she “remains confident in her support among members and members-elect” and noted that 94 percent of the Democratic caucus declined to sign the letter.
Democratic Representative Josh Gottheimer, co-chairman of a bipartisan “Problem Solvers Caucus,” said in a telephone interview that “important progress” was made on Monday in talks with leadership over rules changes that could help ease the House’s partisan gridlock of recent years.