Black Caucus wants one of their own to lead Democrats
by Publisher Emeritus, A. Moses White
In a move that could set off a nasty internal fight, the leader of theCongressional Black Caucus — a key voting bloc among House Democrats — is demanding that an African-American lawmaker hold one of the top two leadership posts if Democrats win the House on Election Day.
The demand by Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), the CBC’s chairman, is seen as a potential threat to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland who have been slotted to return as speaker and House majority leader, respectively, if Democrats gain the majority on Nov. 6.
Hoyer, especially, could be the one to face a potential challenger if the CBC backs up Richmond’s threat,according to Democratic insiders.
Yet Rep. Jim Clyburn (S.C.), the highest-ranking black Democrat, said he has no intention of challenging Pelosi and Hoyer if they run for speaker and majority leader if they seek the top two posts in a Democratic majority.
All of the internal jockeying comes as Democrats from Pelosi on down believe they will win back the House next week and are trying to claim their respective leadership spots.
“Over the past couple of weeks, several of our colleagues have respectfully shared letters of intent expressing interest in various House Democratic Caucus leadership positions,” Richmond said in a “Dear Colleague” letter that went out Thursday. “It is within that context that I’d like to reiterate that if there is any change in our top leadership positions the Democratic Members of the CBC endorse African-American representation in at least one of the two top positions of elected House Democratic Caucus leadership.”
That means, according to Democratic sources, that the CBC would want one of their own to be speaker or majority leader.
Clyburn, however, made clear in an interview he would run for majority whip if Pelosi and Hoyer remain in the top two Democratic posts.
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Clyburn also said he would “work to be part of whatever transition we put in place” for a new Democratic leadership after the current party hierarchy eventually steps down. Clyburn and Pelosi are 78, while Hoyer is 79, and some younger Democrats want to see a whole new leadership team put in place.
Clyburnchallenged Hoyer for the No. 2 post after the Democrats lost the House majority in 2010 but later backed down. Clyburn has been expected to run for majority whip if Democrats win the House on Tuesday.
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), another CBC member, is running to become chairwoman of the House Democratic Caucus. Her opponent is Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Democratic insiders give Lee the edge in that race.
For years, Clyburn — first elected to Congress in 1992 after years in state government — has been the highest-ranking African-American lawmaker. Clyburn and other key black lawmakers like Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), John Lewis (D-Ga.) and former Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) were the driving force inside the CBC.
But in recent years, with the election of Richmond and Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), more junior members have pressed for a greater role in the caucus, according to Democratic lawmakers and aides.
One House Democratic aide close to the CBC suggested Pelosi could make a deal with the group to save her speakership if she lacks the votes to get back the gavel she lost in the 2010 GOP wave. This aide said if Pelosi backed a CBC member over Hoyer, the alliance “could help cushion any criticism that the next generation of leaders is being ignored.”
“It’s incredibly unpopular to be an 80-year-old white guy at this moment in politics,” this aide added, referring to Hoyer.
