After serving 17 years as the Democratic House leader, Pelosi is running unopposed. But she will need to count the votes carefully to ensure she can avoid embarrassment in the House, facing the smallest Democrat majority in decades, a pandemic that could hamper participation and some members of her campaigning caucus. for new leadership, as well as Republican Resistance.
“If Nancy can do anything, she knows how to count,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Democrat from Virginia. “She’s very aware that with a slim majority – with some members who voted against her two years ago – it’s going to take an effort to persuade them that it was then and that it is now. uncertainty about the presidency. “
In order to win the presidency, a member must obtain a majority of the votes. In 2018, 15 Democrats left Pelosi but she can only afford to lose a few in 2021. After losing a dozen seats in 2020, House Democrats are expected to control around 222 seats next term.
Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin and Maine Rep. Jared Golden have previously said they don’t plan to vote for her. And a handful of moderate and progressive Democrats, including Virginia Representative Abigail Spanberger and Elected Representatives Cori Bush of Missouri and Jamaal Bowman of New York, declined to say how they would vote.
Pelosi MPs are also concerned that some allies with underlying health issues will be sidelined as all members must be present to vote. A Democratic member – Rep. Gwen Moore from Wisconsin – announced she tested positive for Covid earlier this week, but her spokesperson told CNN she “does not expect this to have an impact on her ability to perform its duties, including voting “.
Pelosi’s allies said the speaker was confident she would easily win re-election. The speaker has a myriad of tools at her disposal to gather the votes, including a massive fundraising operation, committee missions and legislation she can bring. In 2018, Pelosi, 80, suggested it would be her last term, making a deal with a small group of Democratic rebels that she would serve no more than two terms as president.
Pelosi told his members in a private call earlier this week that his only enemy in the fight for the speaker was Covid, according to several sources close to him, as the virus could affect the number of members who could come to Washington and vote. While members could vote when they were sick, the optics would be terrible.
“She is one of the few clear leaders who can ensure the cohesion and leadership of the Democratic majority,” Connolly said. “I think she comes into this position from a strong position, but clearly aware of the challenges she faces in terms of the numbers and the uncertainty of the coronavirus.”
