Politics

Tim Ryan Announces He Will Challenge Pelosi In Leadership Race

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Juliegrace Brufke Capitol Hill Reporter
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Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan formally announced he will challenge House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi in leadership contests Thursday.

In a letter sent to his Democratic colleagues, Ryan said, while “it has never been his life’s ambition” to run for leadership, he thinks the party needs a change after being dealt a devastating blow on election day.

“I have spent countless hours meeting and talking to Members of our Caucus, and the consensus is clear,” he wrote. “What we are doing right now is not working. Under our current leadership, Democrats have been reduced to our smallest congressional minority since 1929.”

According to Ryan, if current leadership stays in place, things will continue to go downhill for the party and plans to lay out policy proposals to show the direction he would like to take.

“In the days and weeks ahead, I will put forward policies and ideas to help energize the diverse base of our party, and fight the intolerance and dangers that President-elect Trump represents,” he continued. “I expect the entire Caucus to hold me accountable. That is why if I am successful I will not serve again without the support of two-thirds of the Caucus.”

Democrats were expected to pick up somewhere between 15 and 20 seats, but only managed to unseat a handful of Republican lawmakers.

Pelosi announced Tuesday that leadership elections would be pushed back from Thursday to Nov. 30, leaving some wondering if the long-time Democratic leader’s post is in jeopardy.

New York Rep. Joe Crowley is reportedly also being urged by colleagues to run.

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