House Democrat on leadership: ‘I want an open discussion to see what our options are’

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) on Sunday said Democrats need to explore what their leadership options are in the wake of a loss in Georgia’s 6th District special election, and see that the party has a clear plan before the 2018 midterm elections.

“I want an open discussion to see what our options are,” Gallego said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “Until we have leadership step up to tell us the plan for 2018, we’ll continue pushing forward. We don’t see that plan. This is not about leader Pelosi but our constituents to make sure we have a winning chance.”

The Arizona lawmaker added that Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff’s funding in the Georgia election “was not because of leadership, but individual Democrats want to see victory.”

{mosads}After Ossoff’s loss last week, Democratic lawmakers have been split on whether House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is effectively leading the party in the right direction. Critics of Pelosi renewed their calls to have new leadership push the party forward, pointing to the recent special elections as evidence that she is not the right person to help take back the House in 2018.

Rep. André Carson (D-Ind.) defended Pelosi on Sunday, saying on CNN that while everything hasn’t been “perfect,” Pelosi has been a “phenomenal leader.” 

“She’s formidable. Since she’s been in leadership, she’s raised over half a billion dollars for the party, she’s been more inclusive. Who would have thought she would have listened to me and put a Muslim on the Intelligence Committee. She’s visionary. I don’t want to see Pelosi leave and we bring in a more refined, more polished, and younger good old boys club,” Carson added.

Pelosi defended herself last Thursday, saying her leadership is “worth the trouble.” 

“I am proud of the unity that we have had and, frankly, my leadership in terms of keeping everybody together,” Pelosi said during a press conference on Capitol Hill. “I think I’m worth the trouble.”