Politics

McCarthy: As Long As Pelosi Is Minority Leader I Think We’ll Have The Majority

REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Juliegrace Brufke Capitol Hill Reporter
Font Size:

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he would be disappointed to see House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi go, if her party decides to oust her from her leadership position — but not for the reasons some might assume.

The California Republican said he believes Pelosi helps the GOP maintain control of the lower chamber, predicting the trend will continue as long as she remains in power.

“I kind of like Pelosi staying around, as long as she’s there I think we stay in the majority,” he told reporters Monday. “She has been, correct me if I’m wrong, because she has been leader before I got to Congress, but I think she was leader when Barack Obama was a state senator.”

More than 20 Democrats signed a letter calling for Democratic leadership elections to be pushed back, which sparked rumors members may be considering alternatives in the wake of the Nov. 8 results.

Democrats were projected to pick up somewhere between 15 and 20 seats, yet managed to only unseat a handful of GOP lawmakers. Proponents of delaying the election argue it gives them more time to evaluate what went wrong.

“It is vital that our Caucus take the time to listen to the American people and learn the lessons of this difficult election in order to put our Caucus in the best position to fight the potentially dangerous agenda of President-elect Donald Trump and to have a realistic chance of taking back the House in 2018,” the group wrote in a letter obtained by Politico.

Pelosi sent a “Dear Colleague” letter Friday announcing leadership elections are slated to be held Thursday, allowing the party to prepare for the lame duck session.

“If I’m being selfish, I truly believe as long as she’s leader we keep the majority,” McCarthy said.

Follow Juliegrace Brufke on Twitter

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.