2018 United States House of Representatives Democratic Caucus leadership election
A leadership election was held by the United States House of Representatives Democratic Caucus before the beginning of the 116th United States Congress on January 3, 2019. The election determined who will be nominated by the caucus for the speakership election as well as who would occupy other leadership positions within the House Democratic Caucus. The following positions were nominated or elected on November 29: Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, House Majority Leader, House Majority Whip, House Assistant Majority Leader, Democratic Caucus Chair, and Democratic Caucus Vice Chair. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair, the Policy and Communications Committee's Chair and its three Co-Chairs, Junior Caucus Representative and Freshman Class Representative were elected the next day, and a third co-chair was added to the Steering and Policy Committee by the Leader.
Nominee for Speaker
Potential candidates
- Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), Chair of the New Democrat Coalition (supported Pelosi)[2]
- Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) (opposed Pelosi)
- Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee (supported Pelosi)[3]
- Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee[4]
Declined
- Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), former Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (ran for Democratic Caucus Chair)
- Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) (running for President of the United States in 2020)[5]
- Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus (withdrew from race for DCC)
- Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (ran for DCC)[6]
- Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and replacement Permanent Chair of the 2016 Democratic National Convention (supported Pelosi)[7]
- Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Minority Whip and former House Majority Leader (ran for and won House Majority Leader)[8]
- Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (ran for and won Democratic Caucus Chair)[6]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Nancy Pelosi | 203 | 84.94% | |
Democratic | Opposing Nancy Pelosi | 32 | 13.39% | |
Democratic | Blank ballot | 3 | 1.26% | |
Democratic | Absent | 1 | 0.42% | |
Total votes | 239 | 100% |
Majority Leader
Candidates
- Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Minority Whip and former House Majority Leader[8]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Steny Hoyer | Acclamation | 100% | |
Democratic | Absent | 1 | 0.42% | |
Total votes | 239 | 100% |
Majority Whip
Candidates
- Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), House Assistant Minority Leader and former House Majority Whip
Withdrew
- Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), member of the House Minority chief deputy whip team
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jim Clyburn | Acclamation | 100% | |
Democratic | Absent | 1 | 0.42% | |
Total votes | 239 | 100% |
Democratic Assistant Leader
Candidates
- Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Chair of the DCCC
Withdrawn
- Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) (running for Chair of the DCCC)
- Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (running for Chair of the DPCC)
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Ben Ray Luján | Acclamation | 100% | |
Democratic | Absent | 1 | 0.42% | |
Total votes | 239 | 100% |
Democratic Caucus Chair
Candidates
- Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), former Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus
- Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee[6] and member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus
Withdrawn
- Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus (withdrew after husband's federal indictment)
Endorsements
- U.S. Representatives
- Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)[9]
- Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)[10]
- Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS)[11]
- Rep. Joaquín Castro (D-TX)[12]
- Rep. John Lewis[13]
- Rep. Ro Khanna[14]
- Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC)
- Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH)
- Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO)
- Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA)
- Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-NY)
- Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
- Organizations
- Individuals
- Cecile Richards, former President and CEO of Planned Parenthood
- Ady Barkan, activist
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Hakeem Jeffries | 123 | 51.46% | |
Democratic | Barbara Lee | 113 | 47.28% | |
Democratic | Absent | 1 | 0.42% | |
Total votes | 239 | 100% |
Democratic Caucus Vice Chair
Candidates
- Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA), DCCC Recruitment Vice Chair and member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus
- Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Whip and member of the New Democrat Coalition
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Katherine Clark | 144 | 60.25% | |
Democratic | Pete Aguilar | 90 | 37.66% | |
Democratic | Absent | 5 | 2.09% | |
Total votes | 234 | 100% |
DCCC Chair
Candidates
- Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee and DCCC "Heartland Engagement" Chair[6]
- Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA), DCCC Recruitment Chair
- Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), DCCC Finance Co-Chair
Withdrawn
- Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) (withdrew due to hospitalization)
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Cheri Bustos | 117 | ||
Democratic | Denny Heck | 83 | ||
Democratic | Suzan DelBene | 32 | ||
Democratic | Absent | 3 | ||
Total votes | 232 | 100% |
DPCC Chair
This is a newly created position of the United States House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee which will rank above the three current co-chairs.
Candidates
- Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | David Cicilline | Acclamation | 100% | |
Democratic | Absent | 1 | 0.42% | |
Total votes | 239 | 100% |
DPCC Co-Chairs
Candidates
- Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA)
- Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI)
- Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
- Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA)
- Rep.-elect Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)
- Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA)
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Ted Lieu | 161 | ||
Democratic | Debbie Dingell | 144 | ||
Democratic | Matt Cartwright | 119 | ||
Democratic | Chrissy Houlahan | 107 | ||
Democratic | Adriano Espaillat | 90 | ||
Democratic | John Garamendi | 44 | ||
Total votes | 100% |
Junior Caucus Representative
Candidates
- Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
- Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL)
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jamie Raskin | 65 | ||
Democratic | Terri Sewell | 57 | ||
Total votes | 100% |
Freshman Class Representatives
Candidates
- Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Katie Hill | |||
Democratic | Joe Neguse | |||
Total votes | 100% |
References
- "Queens party boss angles to succeed Pelosi as speaker".
- http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/402420-three-scenarios-for-how-leadership-races-could-play-out-in-the-house
- Mathis-Lilley, Ben. "Some Democrats Reportedly Want to Replace Nancy Pelosi With the Literal Congressman From Hollywood".
- https://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/editorials/article216879530.html
- https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/11/rep_tim_ryan_says_he_has_no_in.html
- Hawkings, David (28 June 2017). "Six Who Could Succeed Pelosi — Someday" – via www.rollcall.com.
- Fudge endorses Pelosi for speaker, dropping potential challenge
- McPherson, Lindsey (17 July 2018). "The House Democrats Considering Leadership Bids — So Far" – via www.rollcall.com.