DemDaily: Our New House Leadership
November 30, 2016
House Democrats elected their leadership this morning in a secret ballot election among the new Members of the up and coming 115th Congress.
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi withstood a 134-63 challenge from seven-term Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan, who argued the need for a new, younger vision for expanding the party's economic and political message.
(from left) Clyburn, Pelosi, Crowley, Sanchez, Hoyer, Yarmuth
House Dems also re-elected Maryland Congressman Steny Hoyer as Minority Whip, South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn as Assistant Minority Leader, and elevated Joe Crowley (NY) to Caucus Chair.
Hoyer and Clybern had held their respective positions since 2011.
The only contested election - Caucus Vice Chair - went to Linda Sanchez, who defeated fellow Californian and Congressional colleague Barbara Lee by a margin of only two votes, 98-96. The seven-term Sanchez, who has served as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus since 2015, becomes the first woman of color ever elected to House leadership*.
The 115th Congress, House Democratic Leadership
|
Position
|
Role
|
Name
|
| House Minority Leader |
Represents Democrats on the House floor
|
Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) |
| House Minority Whip |
Assists leadership in managing party's legislative program
|
Steny Hoyer (MD-5) |
| Assistant Minority Leader |
Works with caucuses and as liaison to Appropriations Committee. | Jim Clyburn (SC-6) |
| House Democratic Caucus Chair | Heads organization of all Democratic Party members in the House. | Joe Crowley (NY-14) |
| House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair | Assists the Chair; 2nd in command of the House Democratic Caucus | Linda Sanchez (CA-38) |
| Budget Ranking Member | Top Democrat in the House Committee on the Budget | John Yarmuth (KY-3) |
