2018 United States House of Representatives Democratic Caucus leadership election

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

Candidates

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

U.S. Representative
Nancy Pelosi
from California

Potential candidates

Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), Chair of the New Democrat Coalition (supported Pelosi)^[2]
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) (opposed Pelosi)^{[citation needed]}
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]

U.S. Representative
Jim Himes
from Connecticut
U.S. Representative
Seth Moulton
from Massachusetts
U.S. Representative
Adam Schiff
from California
U.S. Representative
Frank Pallone
from New Jersey

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

Democratic Caucus Speaker of the United States House of Representatives nomination election, 2018
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nancy Pelosi	203	84.94%
	Democratic	Opposing Nancy Pelosi	32	13.39%
	Democratic	Blank ballot	3	1.26%
	Democratic	Absent	1	0.42%
Total votes			239	100%

Majority Leader

Candidates

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

Results

Democratic Caucus Majority Leader election, 2018
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Steny Hoyer	*Acclamation*	100%
	Democratic	Absent	1	0.42%
Total votes			239	100%

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 Caucus Majority Whip election, 2018
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jim Clyburn	*Acclamation*	100%
	Democratic	Absent	1	0.42%
Total votes			239	100%

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 Assistant Majority Leader election, 2018
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ben Ray Luján	*Acclamation*	100%
	Democratic	Absent	1	0.42%
Total votes			239	100%

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)

Endorsements

Barbara Lee

U.S. representatives

Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)^[9]
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)^[10]
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS)^[11]
Rep. Joaquín Castro (D-TX)^[12]
Rep. John Lewis^[13]
Rep. Ro Khanna^[14]
Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-NC)
Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH)
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO)
Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

Organizations

Individuals

Cecile Richards, former President and CEO of Planned Parenthood
Ady Barkan, activist

Results

Democratic Caucus Chair election, 2018
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Hakeem Jeffries	123	51.46%
	Democratic	Barbara Lee	113	47.28%
	Democratic	Absent	1	0.42%
Total votes			239	100%

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

Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair election, 2018
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Katherine Clark	144	60.25%
	Democratic	Pete Aguilar	90	37.66%
	Democratic	Absent	5	2.09%
Total votes			234	100%

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

Democratic Caucus DCCC Chair election, 2018
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Cheri Bustos	117
	Democratic	Denny Heck	83
	Democratic	Suzan DelBene	32
	Democratic	Absent	3
Total votes			232	100%

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

Democratic Caucus DPCC Chair election, 2018
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Cicilline	*Acclamation*	100%
	Democratic	Absent	1	0.42%
Total votes			239	100%

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

Democratic Caucus DCCC Chair election, 2018
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ted Lieu	161
	Democratic	Debbie Dingell	144
	Democratic	Matt Cartwright	119
	Democratic	Chrissy Houlahan	107
	Democratic	Adriano Espaillat	90
	Democratic	John Garamendi	44
Total votes				100%

Junior Caucus Representative

Candidates

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

Results

Democratic Caucus Junior Caucus Representative election, 2018
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jamie Raskin	65
	Democratic	Terri Sewell	57
Total votes				100%

Freshman Class Representatives

Candidates

Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)

Results

Democratic Caucus Freshman Class Representatives election, 2018
Party		Candidate	%
	Democratic	Katie Hill
	Democratic	Joe Neguse
Total votes			100%

References

^ Caygle, Heather; Bresnahan, John. "Queens party boss angles to succeed Pelosi as speaker". Politico.
^ Swanson, Ian (August 19, 2018). "Three scenarios for how leadership races could play out in the House". The Hill.
^ Mathis-Lilley, Ben (March 15, 2018). "Some Democrats Reportedly Want to Replace Nancy Pelosi With the Literal Congressman From Hollywood". Slate.
^ "Nancy Pelosi must forget being speaker | News & Observer". Archived from the original on August 21, 2018.
^ "Rep. Tim Ryan says he has "no intention" of running for House Speaker". cleveland.com. November 8, 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Hawkings, David (June 28, 2017). "Six Who Could Succeed Pelosi — Someday" – via www.rollcall.com.
^ Caygle, Heather; Bresnahan, John. "Fudge endorses Pelosi for speaker, dropping potential challenge". Politico.
^ ^a ^b McPherson, Lindsey (July 17, 2018). "The House Democrats Considering Leadership Bids — So Far" – via www.rollcall.com.
^ "Barbara Lee - Congresswoman for the 13th District of California". lee.house.gov.
^ "Barbara Lee - Congresswoman for the 13th District of California". lee.house.gov.
^ "Barbara Lee - Congresswoman for the 13th District of California". lee.house.gov.
^ @JoaquinCastrotx (November 19, 2018). "Folks have asked where I stand on the main Democratic Caucus leadership races. My commitments: Speaker -…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ "Congresswoman Barbara Lee Welcomes Endorsement from Congressman John Lewis | Barbara Lee - Congresswoman for the 13th District of California". lee.house.gov.
^ Grim, Ryan (July 16, 2018). "Ro Khanna Says He'll Rally Support for Barbara Lee if She Makes Bid for Democratic Leadership". The Intercept.

[1] Caygle, Heather; Bresnahan, John. "Queens party boss angles to succeed Pelosi as speaker". Politico.

[2] Swanson, Ian (August 19, 2018). "Three scenarios for how leadership races could play out in the House". The Hill.

[3] Mathis-Lilley, Ben (March 15, 2018). "Some Democrats Reportedly Want to Replace Nancy Pelosi With the Literal Congressman From Hollywood". Slate.

[4] "Nancy Pelosi must forget being speaker | News & Observer". Archived from the original on August 21, 2018.

[5] "Rep. Tim Ryan says he has "no intention" of running for House Speaker". cleveland.com. November 8, 2018.

[auto-6] Hawkings, David (June 28, 2017). "Six Who Could Succeed Pelosi — Someday" – via www.rollcall.com.

[7] Caygle, Heather; Bresnahan, John. "Fudge endorses Pelosi for speaker, dropping potential challenge". Politico.

[auto2-8] McPherson, Lindsey (July 17, 2018). "The House Democrats Considering Leadership Bids — So Far" – via www.rollcall.com.

[9] "Barbara Lee - Congresswoman for the 13th District of California". lee.house.gov.

[10] "Barbara Lee - Congresswoman for the 13th District of California". lee.house.gov.

[11] "Barbara Lee - Congresswoman for the 13th District of California". lee.house.gov.

[12] @JoaquinCastrotx (November 19, 2018). "Folks have asked where I stand on the main Democratic Caucus leadership races. My commitments: Speaker -…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[13] "Congresswoman Barbara Lee Welcomes Endorsement from Congressman John Lewis | Barbara Lee - Congresswoman for the 13th District of California". lee.house.gov.

[14] Grim, Ryan (July 16, 2018). "Ro Khanna Says He'll Rally Support for Barbara Lee if She Makes Bid for Democratic Leadership". The Intercept.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]