House Democrats elect Becerra vice chairman

House Democrats elected Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) as caucus vice chairman Tuesday, retaining the only Hispanic-American in their leadership team.

Becerra, who prevailed by a wide margin over Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), had been serving as assistant to the Speaker.

{mosads}Becerra was the only member of the Democratic leadership who faced a vote of the entire caucus. He won in a 175-67 vote over Kaptur, who mounted a late challenge and attempted to appeal to centrist and conservative Democrats who had voiced concern about the liberal tilt of the new leadership team.

Kaptur said that her support came from a “broad–based coalition from the whole fly-over-state part of the country.”

Kaptur — who is a member of the liberal-leaning Progressive Caucus — ran on a geography platform, handing out small maps of the country with blue flags planted in Connecticut, Maryland, South Carolina and California and asking for her colleagues to “[Bring] the Heartland to Leadership.”

Kaptur said her colleagues and Democratic leaders were “very receptive” to her message to “be more inclusive” in selecting the next leaders of the caucus, despite her failed bid.

Democrats otherwise reelected their leaders Tuesday in unanimous votes, while saving a potentially bruising battle between two powerful chairmen for later in this week.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) were all reelected unopposed and by acclamation. Caucus Vice Chairman John Larson (D-Conn.) was likewise affirmed unanimously to slide into the caucus chairmanship vacancy created by the departure of Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.).

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (Md.), who is staying on for another cycle at the helm of the Democrats’ campaign organization, was elected to take over Becerra’s old job.

The rest of the week won’t be as easy. Democrats must decide whether Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) will keep his gavel. Dingell is being challenged by Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.).