Congressional Democrats are sweating over the possibility that the coronavirus could cost Nancy Pelosi her job.
The party will face a much smaller majority next year, and some members fear a coronavirus outbreak affecting Dems disproportionately could lift her anticipated re-election as Speaker of the House.
Let’s say theoretically we had six or eight people with COVID and the Republicans have none. They could probably choose [Kevin] McCarthy, ”said Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) On The Hill, speaking of the current leader of the Republican House.
Getting her caucus to appear is also only half the battle. During her last campaign as a speaker, two years ago, she was victorious despite 15 members of her own party voting against her. She won’t have that margin of error this time.
At least three Democrats, Pennsylvania’s Conor Lamb, Maine’s Jared Golden, and Michigan’s Elissa Slotkin, have all said they intend to oppose Pelosi’s re-election as speaker chairman.
Washington, DC, has not been spared as the coronavirus continues to spread across the country. This week alone, five new members of the House tested positive for the deadly virus – bringing the total number of lawmakers with confirmed infections to 35.
“There are the usual suspects who make it part of their brand to vote against her,” Connecticut Democrat Jim Himes added to the paper. “But I think there is a realization – and there is certainly a message coming from the caucus – that this may not be a year for the usual branding.”