2018 United States House of Representatives Democratic Caucus leadership election explained

A leadership election was held by the United States House of Representatives Democratic Caucus before the beginning of the 116th United States Congress on January 3, 2019. The election determined who will be nominated by the caucus for the speakership election as well as who would occupy other leadership positions within the House Democratic Caucus. The following positions were nominated or elected on November 29: Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, House Majority Leader, House Majority Whip, House Assistant Majority Leader, Democratic Caucus Chair, and Democratic Caucus Vice Chair. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair, the Policy and Communications Committee's Chair and its three Co-Chairs, Junior Caucus Representative and Freshman Class Representative were elected the next day, and a third co-chair was added to the Steering and Policy Committee by the Leader.

Nominee for Speaker

See main article: 2019 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election.

Candidates

• Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Minority Leader and former and current Speaker^[1]

Potential candidates

• Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), Chair of the New Democrat Coalition (supported Pelosi)^[2]
• Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) (opposed Pelosi)
• Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee (supported Pelosi)^[3]
• Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee^[4]

Declined

• Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), former Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (ran for Democratic Caucus Chair)
• Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) (running for President of the United States in 2020)^[5]
• Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus (withdrew from race for DCC)
• Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (ran for DCC)^[6]
• Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and replacement Permanent Chair of the 2016 Democratic National Convention (supported Pelosi)^[7]
• Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Minority Whip and former House Majority Leader (ran for and won House Majority Leader)^[8]
• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (ran for and won Democratic Caucus Chair)^[6]

Results

Majority Leader

Candidates

• Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Minority Whip and former House Majority Leader^[8]

Results

Majority Whip

Candidates

• Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), House Assistant Minority Leader and former House Majority Whip

Withdrew

• Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), member of the House Minority chief deputy whip team

Results

Democratic Assistant Leader

Candidates

• Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Chair of the DCCC

Withdrawn

• Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) (running for Chair of the DCCC)
• Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (running for Chair of the DPCC)

Results

Democratic Caucus Chair

Candidates

• Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), former Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus
• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee^[6] and member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus

Withdrawn

• Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus (withdrew after husband's federal indictment)

Results

Democratic Caucus Vice Chair

Candidates

• Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA), DCCC Recruitment Vice Chair and member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus
• Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Whip and member of the New Democrat Coalition

Results

DCCC Chair

Candidates

• Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee and DCCC "Heartland Engagement" Chair^[6]
• Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA), DCCC Recruitment Chair
• Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), DCCC Finance Co-Chair

Withdrawn

• Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) (withdrew due to hospitalization)

Results

DPCC Chair

This is a newly created position of the United States House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee which will rank above the three current co-chairs.

Candidates

• Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee

Results

DPCC Co-Chairs

Candidates

• Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA)
• Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI)
• Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
• Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA)
• Rep.-elect Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)
• Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA)

Results

Junior Caucus Representative

Candidates

• Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
• Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL)

Results

Freshman Class Representatives

Candidates

• Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)

Results

Notes and References

1. Web site: Queens party boss angles to succeed Pelosi as speaker. Heather. Caygle. John. Bresnahan. Politico.
2. Web site: Three scenarios for how leadership races could play out in the House. Ian. Swanson. August 19, 2018. The Hill.
3. Some Democrats Reportedly Want to Replace Nancy Pelosi With the Literal Congressman From Hollywood. Ben. Mathis-Lilley. Slate . March 15, 2018.
4. Web site: Nancy Pelosi must forget being speaker News & Observer. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180821095234/https://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/editorials/article216879530.html. 2018-08-21.
5. Web site: Rep. Tim Ryan says he has "no intention" of running for House Speaker. November 8, 2018. cleveland.com.
6. Web site: Six Who Could Succeed Pelosi — Someday. David. Hawkings. June 28, 2017. www.rollcall.com.
7. Web site: Fudge endorses Pelosi for speaker, dropping potential challenge. Heather. Caygle. John. Bresnahan. Politico.
8. Web site: The House Democrats Considering Leadership Bids — So Far. Lindsey. McPherson. July 17, 2018. www.rollcall.com.