Rep. Joe Crowley, the No. 4 Democrat in the House who lost his primary to a political newcomer and Sen. Bernie Sanders supporter, declined Sunday to endorse Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for speaker should the party win a majority this fall.
In an interview on CBS News' "Face The Nation," the 10-term New York politician sidestepped the question when asked if Pelosi should remain leader.
"I think that … when history looks back on Nancy Pelosi they will look at one of the smartest and hardest working speakers and leaders in the history of our country," he said.
But pressed by host Margaret Brennan, who noted "some Democrats question this," Crowley appeared to acknowledge an uncertainty about Pelosi.
"Well look, you know, I do think that that'll be up to the new Congress to decide who the next leader or speaker will be," he said.
"If we win the House back, Nancy will have a very strong case for holding on to the speakership. If not, there may be other issues that come to the fore at that point. But it's up to the next Congress- Democratic caucus to decide that fate."
Before his stunning primary defeat by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Crowley was viewed within the party as a potential successor to Pelosi.
"This is on me. This loss is on me," he said. "I had wonderful volunteers, hundreds of them and a great campaign effort. And just sometimes you come up short."
"I have to take the responsibility for that I did not do as I preach. You know, I talk about all politics being local," he said. "I didn't remind folks of my accomplishments."
He also said another factor was that 2018 was "the year of the woman."
"I think that's a fact that's playing into this," he said. "And I like that for November. I think that's really good for us as a party."
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