If Not Pelosi Who? The Question Hovers Over a Simmering Rebellion

(The New York Times) WASHINGTON What if House Democrats tried to stage a coup and nobody showed up? That is the predicament facing Democrats as a quiet rebellion simmers in their ranks to block Representative Nancy Pelosi of California from being speaker. Inside the Capitol and at nearby watering holes and restaurants there are hopeful whispers among a small band of Democrats that a fresh-faced new leader will come forward to challenge Ms. Pelosi who has led House Democrats for 15 years. But so far no one has emerged to take her on. As much as some House Democrats including several among the wave of newcomers elected this month say they want to shake up a calcified party leadership would-be challengers are keenly aware of the immense power Ms. Pelosi wields and fearful of institutional retribution and reputational damage if they step forward to test the status quo. Democrats who had hoped to release a letter clearly demonstrating that Ms. Pelosi did not have the votes to become speaker pulled back on Friday hoping to garner more than the 17 signatures that they said they had collected. Representative Marcia L. Fudge of Ohio who is considering a run against Ms. Pelosi said she was still undecided. And Ms. Pelosi a legendary legislator vote-counter campaigner and fund-raiser who served as speaker from 2007 to 2011 has expressed supreme confidence that she will be elected again in January. She has enlisted powerful allies to weigh in on her behalf and worked to build an air of inevitability around her bid including through a letter of support circulated by a veteran lawmaker Representative Nita M. Lowey of New York and signed by 61 Democratic women as of Friday afternoon. (An additional four women elected this month have since said publicly that they will back her.) Ms. Pelosi has effectively dared a challenger to come forward declaring Come on in the waters warm." Privately her allies have taken to using a sharper axiom: You cant beat somebody with nobody." Still while so far it is a threat without a face the rebellious Democrats are eyeing the most consequential challenge yet to Ms. Pelosis tenure as their leader. It has the potential to set off an intraparty feud that would dim the afterglow of Democrats sweeping midterm election victories and mar the opening days of their majority. Read More