WASHINGTON – There is no doubt that Nancy Pelosi will be re-elected mayor when the new Congress meets on Sunday. It can be difficult for her to get there, largely thanks to the pandemic.
The only woman in history to serve as a spokesperson, the California Democrat has a reputation as a formidable vote-count and astute negotiator. These skills have helped her defend against threats and consolidate her as a leader of her party in the House since 2003, and they seem likely to win on January 3, when the Constitution requires the start of the new Congress.
“Yes, I do,” Pelosi told a reporter this week when asked if she had the votes closed.
In what seemed like an indication of confidence, Pelosi told reporters on Wednesday that elected MP Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, will be sworn in, even though Democratic opponent Rita Hart’s challenge to the election results remains under House review. . Miller-Meeks will certainly vote against Pelosi to be the speaker.
Even so, the terrain that Pelosi faces will allow almost no margin of error.
The House plenary elects the president, and Democrats will have the smallest majority in the House in 20 years, in a vote in which Republicans will certainly vote unanimously against it, accompanied by Democratic defectors. Democrats will have a 222-211 lead, with a race still undecided and a spot after deputy elected Luke Letlow, R-La., Died on Tuesday after fighting Covid-19.
The violent coronavirus pandemic, combined with routine illnesses and the usual risks of winter travel, can make participation unpredictable for the first House call in months that lawmakers will have to attend in person. To avoid risks of exposure to Covid-19, the House changed its rules this year to allow its members to vote by proxy in their homes, but that change dies with the old Congress.
“I’m fine,” said Pelosi when asked if Covid’s absences were a concern.
The election of the speaker, in which members traditionally vote verbally in alphabetical order, has long been the first vote held by the new House. Because of Covid’s concerns, lawmakers will vote in groups on a call that is expected to last three to four hours.
“It’s extraordinarily complicated” for Pelosi, said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., An 18-year veteran in Congress. Still, he said, he expects it to prevail “because I don’t see what the alternative is” for Democrats.
To make sure they are in full swing, leaders of both parties are asking lawmakers to take health precautions and return to Washington well before Sunday to avoid travel problems.
“I still have people who come to me saying, ‘Well, I can vote remotely, right?’”, Said House Rules Committee chairman, Deputy Jim McGovern, D-Mass., Earlier this month about his colleagues. “No you can not.”
In a memo this week, Congressional chief physician Dr. Brian Monahan and Arms Sergeant Paul Irving told House members that all guests, including family members, will have to follow the District of Columbia’s local requirements for the Covid test.
On a day when members’ families and friends usually flock across the Capitol, freshmen entering the House will be allowed only one guest each in the chamber gallery to see them take their oaths. Returning members will not be allowed to any guests in the gallery
Leading Democrats checked the availability of lawmakers who had serious health problems. McGovern said MP Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., 84, who is battling pancreatic cancer, said he plans to attend. Representative Mark DeSaulnier, D-Calif., Who nearly died of pneumonia after falling while running in March and has been recovering ever since, said he told Pelosi he would return to Capitol for the opening day.
“I’m planning to go back because that’s my job,” said DeSaulnier, 68.
Pelosi maintains the support of most Democrats, who revere her for leading the resumption of control of the House in 2018 and her battles against President Donald Trump. She held her party’s moderates and progressives broadly together and raised a lot of campaign funds.
But at 80, about the same age as his two top lieutenants, Pelosi remains a source of frustration for younger Democrats eager to move up the leadership chain. Discontent and division increased after the expected gains in last month’s elections evaporated and 12 Democrats lost seats in the House, leading to calls for new messengers in response to criticism that party leaders did bad campaigning against deep problems. economic conditions in the country.
No Democratic rivals to Pelosi have emerged, greatly reducing the chances of her being overthrown. Perhaps unanimously, Republicans will support California’s deputy Kevin McCarthy as mayor, but he looks set to become the minority leader again.
Even so, Pelosi must minimize the number of Democrats who oppose her.
Of the 15 Democrats who rejected her when she was elected mayor in January 2019, three lost re-election last month. One is in a dispute where votes are still being counted and another has become a Republican.
That leaves 10 Democrats who opposed it two years ago. Of these, Washington Rep. Kurt Schrader said he is now open to support her and at least two others said they will, Jason Crow of Colorado and Jim Cooper of Tennessee.
“She led a Democratic caucus litigation well during the pandemic and Trump’s presidency,” said Cooper.
It is not known how many of the 15 incoming Democratic freshmen can oppose Pelosi.
Some suggest that the tight numbers may encourage Pelosi’s Democratic critics to force the vote for a rare runoff, when she could win, but perhaps be forced to promise bills that the House would consider or other concessions. People who mentioned this scenario insisted on anonymity to describe backstage conversations.
The speaker vote required several ballots only 14 times, including in 1923, the only time since the Civil War.