Anti-Pelosi Dem favors her over Republican as Speaker

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), who signed onto a letter with 15 other Democrats vowing to oppose House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) bid for Speaker, said Sunday he would support her over a Republican in a final vote.

Politico reported that Lynch told a local television station in Massachusetts that he would support Pelosi if the choice were between her and a Republican on Jan. 3, when the new session of Congress convenes and the House elects a Speaker. 

{mosads}“If it becomes as a choice between a Republican and Nancy Pelosi, I’ll obviously support Nancy Pelosi,” Lynch said. “But I do think we risk losing the majority in the House — we risk having Trump elected for another four years — if the Democrats don’t offer a new direction in the Democratic Party.”

He added that he’s concerned that Democrats will lose the House in the next election “if the face of our party is Nancy Pelosi,” arguing the party needs to appeal to the political center.

Republicans sought to tie numerous Democratic candidates to Pelosi in the most recent midterm cycle, during which Democrats picked up dozens of seats. 

Lynch was one of 16 Democratic representatives or representative-elects to sign onto a letter earlier this month opposing Pelosi as Speaker and calling for new party leadership.

Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), who also signed the letter, has already said he will support Pelosi.

House Democrats this week will vote on leadership positions. Pelosi is running unopposed for Speaker, despite some resistance within the party. She must earn votes from half of the Democratic Caucus to win the nomination, and must secure a majority of votes in the full House to become Speaker.