Dems Already Planning for Future Without Pelosi

Bracing for a GOP takeover of the House and possibly the Senate, House Democrats are already planning for a future without Speaker Nancy Pelosi as their leader, according to Politico. The problem is that there is no clear replacement for Pelosi, a divisive figure even among Democrats. The obvious immediate scenario sees House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a sometimes ally of Pelosi, taking the helm as minority leader.Democrats all over Washington are talking about the obvious top-to-bottom shakeout after the elections.

“If we lose it badly, Pelosi would have to leave, as might the whole leadership team,” one unidentified House Democrat told Politico.

“I can see Hoyer becoming minority leader. And I can imagine that Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., would stay as whip, but then retire. They could become transitional leaders as we look for new leadership. It would have to sort itself out.”