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The first black speaker?
Upheaval in the Democratic caucus could pave the way for a historic House leader and some potential names are already being discussed.
By JOHN BRESNAHAN and HEATHER CAYGLE
08/01/2018 05:05 AM EDT
The next speaker of the House could be a black Democrat. And Congress would never be the same.
In 230 years, theres never been a black speaker, or any black lawmaker seriously in the running for the post. That could change after voters go to the polls in November.
Democrats are their closest to winning back the House in years. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has said she will run for speaker again, but after 16 years at the top, some lawmakers and a rising number of Democratic candidates want someone else to take over.
The prospect of a black speaker, which seemed like a long shot just months ago, has started to bubble up more in private conversations in recent weeks, particularly among Democrats in the influential, 48-member Congressional Black Caucus.
After Rep. Joe Crowley of New York, a potential Pelosi successor, went down in a shocking primary defeat in June, the questions about who might replace her have only grown. And that raises the possibility of an African-American Democrat being sworn in as the 55th speaker on Jan. 3.
The members with the likeliest shot, according to more than 20 Democratic lawmakers and aides, include Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, currently the No. 3 House Democrat; Hakeem Jeffries of New York; Cedric Richmond of Louisiana, current chairman of the CBC; Elijah Cummings of Maryland; and Marcia Fudge of Ohio.
I think its more than a possibility. Its a probability, said Fudge of the likelihood of a black speaker in 2019. Fudge strongly backs Clyburn for the job.
Electing a black lawmaker to the top job in the House putting that Democrat in line to the presidency right after the vice president would be a remarkable milestone. No African-American lawmaker has ever run a party caucus in either chamber or risen higher than majority whip, the No. 3 post, in the House leadership. Prior to Clyburn, the late Rep. William Gray III of Pennsylvania served as House majority whip from 1989 to 1991.
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https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/01/house-speaker-african-american-democrats-753177
BeyondGeography
(39,374 posts)See his flat-footed reaction to the Conyers scandal for why that just might be a truly terrible idea.
Jeffries as Speaker, otoh, is inspiring, but that runs head-on into the partys hidebound attachment to seniority as the overriding determinant of who gets power, which is the root of the problem.
babylonsister
(171,070 posts)He's also got the age and experience, though it would be nice if the House Dems didn't just discount the younger members.
BeyondGeography
(39,374 posts)Unfortunately, he's struggling on that front. Cummings is a rock; one of the most impressive people we have.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Those more representative of the base will support more diversity within party leadership.
SkyDancer
(561 posts)and that is who "the left" is pushing
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Don't think Lee is even mentioned in the article. Doesn't seem to be much conversation about it.
https://www.google.com/search?q=barbara+lee+speaker&rlz=1C1EODB_enUS545US545&oq=barbara+lee+speaker&aqs=chrome..69i57j0.3255j1j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)If we manage to do that, then we can worry about who the Speaker will be. Democratic House members will decide that for themselves. We desperately need to focus on just one thing:
GOTV 2018!
This written x1000.
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)Jeffries is great as well, but might be too young.
I'd be okay with Jeffries moving to Hoyer's post with the plan that Pelosi steps down in 2020 and Jeffries takes over for her.