Rep. Marcia L. Fudge on Wednesday endorsed Rep. Tim Ryan’s quest to become the leader of the House Democratic caucus in the next Congress — giving her fellow Ohio Democrat’s long-shot bid a pre-Thanksgiving shot of optimism.
Mr. Ryan announced last week that he is running to unseat House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who has led the caucus for more than a decade.
“After spending considerable time contemplating the future of the House Democratic Caucus and our party, I have decided to support Tim Ryan for House Minority Leader,” Ms. Fudge said in a statement.
“I believe now is the right time for new leadership,” she said. “As of January 2016, Democrats have experienced significant losses in the House and Senate, yet Members have been asked for little to no input to address the reasons for these losses. We continue to rely on consultants who know less than we about our districts and our states.”
Mrs. Pelosi bowed to pressure from rank-and-file Democrats earlier this month by delaying leadership elections until Nov. 30 — giving lawmakers the Thanksgiving holiday break to further digest the outcome of the disappointing election, where Democrats fell well short of expectations in House races.
Mr. Ryan has made the case that it is a time for a leadership shakeup following the election, saying the party needs to reconnect with working-class voters in rust belt states and the Midwest.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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