House Democrats elected current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi their next Minority Leader, part of Democrats’ preparations to return to being the minority party in the House in 2011.
Pelosi survived a movement by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) earlier in the day to delay the leadership votes until December to give the caucus time to think their losses over more thoroughly. That vote, conducted by a secret ballot, failed 129-68, a smaller-than-expected margin. But both votes indicated a not-insignificant degree of contention within the Democratic caucus.
A source told TPM that Pelosi was officially nominated by Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA), and the nomination was seconded by Reps. Gwen Moore (D-WI), Henry Cuellar (D-TX and a Blue Dog) and Jared Polis (D-CO, and a freshman). Doyle praised her fundraising skills and Polis reportedly said that he supported Pelosi’s continued tenure as the top House Democrat because of her willingness to engage with freshmen like himself.
Update: Shortly after Pelosi won election, House Democrats elected Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD) the Minority Whip. Hoyer, the current Majority Leader, had been locked in a fight with the current Majority Whip, Rep. James Clyburn (SC), over who would be the Whip next year.
Late Update: Clyburn was unanimously elected Assistant Leader, a heretofore nonexistent position.
Reporting by Brian Beutler
