Pelosi easily fends off leadership challenge from Ryan

WASHINGTON – House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) easily fended off a long-shot challenge by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) Wednesday to unseat her, enabling her to continue on as the top Democrat in Congress.

Pelosi, 76, garnered 134 votes while Ryan, 43, secured 63 votes.

Pundits have suggested that the widely held perception of Pelosi as a Washington insider and a San Francisco liberal might have hurt Democratic congressional candidates who were seeking office in a year where outsider Donald Trump unexpectedly defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in the presidential race.

Some argued that Ryan, who represents manufacturing-heavy areas in Ohio such as Youngstown and Akron, would be better suited to attract rust-belt voters whom polls suggests voted overwhelmingly for President-elect Trump.

Pelosi rejected that premise during a press conference last week.

“I take great pride in the city that I represent of San Francisco,” she said, after having previously contended that she had “over two-thirds of the [Democratic] Caucus” supporting her continuation as Minority Leader.

Pelosi has served as Leader of the House Democratic Party since 2007. She had been Speaker of the House for four years, and when Democrats lost control of the House in 2011 she became minority leader.

Following Wednesday’s vote, Ryan told TMN that he believes rising stars in the Democratic Party may benefit from his decision to have challenged Pelosi.

“They have a much bigger voice now,” Ryan said. “Now they really do. I think we knocked down some barriers for them to come up and speak their piece and not be afraid to challenge leadership.”

“And I think that’s important. And that’s one of the best things that has come out of the race,” he said.

This article was republished with permission from Talk Media News