Congress Democrats are sweating over the possibility that the coronavirus could cost Nancy Pelosi the job.
The party faces a much tighter majority next year and some members fear a coronavirus outbreak that will disproportionately affect Dems could revalue her expected re-election as Speaker of the House.
“Let’s say, only theoretically, that we had six or eight people outside COVID and the Republicans don’t have any. They could probably choose [Kevin] McCarthy, “Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) Told The Hill, referring to the current Republican House leader.
Making sure your caucus shows up is also only half the battle. During his last campaign as a speaker two years ago, he succeeded despite 15 members of his own party voting against him. This time you will not have that margin of error.
At least three Democrats, Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania, Jared Golden of Maine, and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan have said they intend to oppose Pelosi’s re-election as speaker.
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 35 lawmakers with confirmed infections.
“There are the usual suspects who are part of her brand voting against her,” Connecticut Democrat Jim Himes added to the newspaper. “But I think there’s an awareness (and certainly there’s a message coming from the caucus) that it might not be a year for the usual brand.”