Fudge Backs Pelosi For Speaker, Pelosi Backs Fudge For Elections Subcommittee

Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), who in recent days has mulled challenging House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for the House speakership in the next Congress, announced Tuesday that she would not run for speaker and would instead back Pelosi.

Around the same time, Pelosi announced that she would reconstitute the House Administration Committee’s Subcommittee on Elections, with Fudge as its chair.

Pelosi, Fudge said in her statement ditching a speakership bid, “has granted me the opportunity to create the record necessary to satisfy the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder, so that the protections of the Voting Rights Act will be reinstated and improved.” (Read Fudge’s full statement below.)

“She has also assured me that the most loyal voting bloc in the Democratic party, Black women, will have a seat at the decision-making table,” Fudge added.

Pelosi said in a statement: “With the Committee on House Administration’s powerful jurisdiction over the Help America Vote Act, the Election Assistance Commission and the Federal Election Commission, [Elections Subcommittee] Chairwoman Fudge will play a critical role in our Democratic Majority’s efforts to ensure access to the ballot box for all Americans.” (Read Pelosi’s full statement below.)

The Republican House majority, Pelosi noted, “eliminated this critical subcommittee in 2013.”

Read Fudge’s statement in full here, or below:

Warrensville Heights, Ohio – Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) releases the following statement:

“Last week I announced that I was strongly considering a run for Speaker of the House.

“My consideration was due in large part to the lack of sustained efforts that ensure diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of the House.  Further, despite the great success we experienced on November 6, voter protection and voter integrity are still at risk.  The erosion of voting rights and civil rights was on full display in Georgia, Florida, North Dakota, Ohio and Texas.  Our party should reflect the diversity of our changing nation and guarantee all our citizens the unfettered right to vote and to have every vote count.

“Leader Pelosi has granted me the opportunity to create the record necessary to satisfy the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder, so that the protections of the Voting Rights Act will be reinstated and improved.  She has also assured me that the most loyal voting bloc in the Democratic party, Black women, will have a seat at the decision-making table.   I am now confident that we will move forward together and that the 116^th Congress will be a Congress of which we can all be proud.  I now join my colleagues in support of the leadership team of Pelosi, Hoyer and Clyburn.”

Read Pelosi’s statement in full here, or below:

San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announced her intention to restore the Elections Subcommittee of the Committee on House Administration in the 116th Congress and name Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge the new Chair:

“Throughout her 20 years of public service, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge has been a relentless advocate for the right of every citizen to vote, and for all votes to be counted as cast.  During her time in Congress, Congresswoman Fudge has been a driving force in our voter protection efforts, including in her leadership as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

“With the Committee on House Administration’s powerful jurisdiction over the Help America Vote Act, the Election Assistance Commission and the Federal Election Commission, Chairwoman Fudge will play a critical role in our Democratic Majority’s efforts to ensure access to the ballot box for all Americans.

“Unfortunately, House Republicans eliminated this critical subcommittee in 2013.  And sadly, the appalling conduct we have witnessed in Florida, Georgia and too many other places during this election has once again underscored the absolute necessity of this subcommittee’s establishment in the first place: to combat brazenly partisan efforts to turn back the clock and erect barriers to voting for historically disenfranchised communities.

“The protection of the vote is well served by House Democrats and is needed at this crucial time when the vote is under assault.  Together with Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson’s oversight of critical election infrastructure, Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Lucille Roybal-Allard bolstering election security resources, and House Administration Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren, Chairwoman Fudge’s subcommittee will expose and confront disenfranchisement and strengthen fair elections across America.

“I look forward to working with Chairwoman Fudge in this new role as we advance our efforts to offer all Americans a Better Deal for Our Democracy.”