Ohio Rep Calls For More Diverse Leadership, Mulls Challenging Pelosi As Speaker

UNITED STATES - JULY 27: Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, arrives on stage to call the convention to order at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
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Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) is calling for more diversity within the Democratic Party leadership and is considering challenging lame-duck House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for the speakership, Cleveland.com reported.

Fudge told the local newspaper she doesn’t think Pelosi has the votes she needs to be elected to the top post and said many who are opposing Pelosi’s bid have approached her about throwing her hat in the race. She told Cleveland.com she wants to give the prospects some “thought and see if I have an interest,” stressing that it is “just in discussion at this point.”

Fudge also suggested that voters who pushed Democrats back into House leadership were fueled by an interest in change. She said Pelosi, as well as Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who is vying for majority leader, don’t represent change.

“When you look at the people who support this party the most, they are women and African Americans and especially African American women,” Fudge told Cleveland.com. “We keep talking about diversity, but there is nothing diverse about the top of our ticket. We have to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk.”

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Notable Replies

  1. Ya , but not now.
    We have some serious battles coming up and I want experience at the helm

  2. I’m all for more diversity but I also believe that now is a time for Dem challengers to sit the fuck down.

    I want to stop Trump.

  3. Oh God. Just caught the autocorrect error in the headline.

    “DIVERSE”

  4. Avatar for erik_t erik_t says:

    I agree with her, on the condition that if she (or whatever other good-faith challenger) gets her butt kicked by Pelosi, she’ll fall in line for the cycle and be a loyal member of the caucus, and encourage her supporters and constituents to do the same.

    I personally support Pelosi through and through, but I don’t think positive-messaged “I think I can be a better leader, and here’s why” challenges are ever bad for a caucus.

  5. Fudge told the local newspaper she doesn’t think Pelosi has the votes she needs to be elected to the top post and said many who are opposing Pelosi’s bid have approached her about throwing her hat in the race. She told Cleveland.com she wants to give the prospects some “thought and see if I have an interest,” stressing that it is “just in discussion at this point.”

    "We keep talking about diversity, but there is nothing diverse about the top of our ticket. We have to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk.”

    Okay Rep. Fudge. Then stop just talking about it and challenge Pelosi for the position.

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