Rep. Sherman abandons bid for foreign affairs leadership post amid backlash

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) on Friday abandoned his bid to become the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, all but ensuring Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) will get the job.

{mosads}The announcement comes after Sherman’s fellow Democrats gave him an earful this week over his bitter campaign to defeat Rep. Howard Berman in the redrawn northern Los Angeles district. Engel said Thursday he’d garnered the support of nine out of 10 Democrats on the committee, and Sherman also endorsed him Friday.

“Yesterday, Congressman Engel announced that he had the support of the majority of the Democratic members on the Foreign Affairs Committee,” Sherman said.

{mosads}“This combined with Eliot’s 18 years of outstanding work on the Committee have caused me to end my candidacy and support Eliot Engel.”

American Samoa Del. Eni Faleomavaega is also running and has the most seniority. But he cannot vote on the House floor and has virtually no chance of being selected.

“I have great respect for Eni Faleomavaega and his many years of outstanding contribution to the committee,” Sherman said. “However, I have decided to support Eliot Engel, and I believe that Eliot will do an outstanding job as ranking member.”