Rep. Luján New Title Will Be Assistant Speaker

Rep. Ben Ray Luján’s title has been changed from “assistant majority leader” to “assistant Speaker” for the upcoming Congress, The Hill is reporting.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in a Tuesday meeting with lawmakers, called for a voice vote to officially change the title for Luján, the Democrat from New Mexico. House members unanimously gave their approval.

House aides tried to downplay the significance of the title change, The Hill noted.

“It’s just a simple matter of harmonizing the rules to reflect that we are in the majority,” a Democratic leadership aide said.

But one Democratic lawmaker, when asked if the new title helps position Luján for a future Speaker’s bid, said: “Sounds like it.”

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