💙 Black caucus members back Pelosi for speaker over their former chair [View all]

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https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.politico.com/amp/story/2018/11/15/black-caucus-pelosi-speaker-994469

Black caucus members back Pelosi for speaker over their former chair
Influential Democrats in the group aren’t willing to endorse Marcia Fudge.

By RACHAEL BADE, JOHN BRESNAHAN and NOLAN D. MCCASKILL 11/15/2018 07:05 PM EST

Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the most powerful African-American in the House, has expressed support for Nancy Pelosi as speaker.

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But in interviews with eight CBC members about a potential Fudge bid for speaker, all but two members said they would back Pelosi over Fudge. Other CBC members on Thursday tweeted or put out statements of support for Pelosi, including Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the most powerful African-American in the House and a close Fudge friend and ally.

"She knows that, she knows that, she knows I'm for Pelosi," Clyburn said of Fudge in a short interview in the Capitol.

"She’s a great leader, and I support her more than 100 percent," said Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a civil rights icon, of Pelosi.

Fudge, 66, has not formally declared for the position. She is part of a group of anti-Pelosi critics who don’t want the woman who has led the party for 16 years to be the speaker in the next Congress.

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Even several black women in the group eager to see an African-American female leading the party are sticking with Pelosi over Fudge.

Rep. Karen Bass tweeted that she was still with her fellow California Democrat on Thursday afternoon. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas also reaffirmed her loyalty to Pelosi to reporters, even as she had nothing but praise for Fudge.

“[Fudge] has been a real key leader in the conference,” she said, adding: “I have expressed my support for Nancy… But [Fudge] is a fantastic person but I just hope that we can work together.”

The situation clearly created some discomfort for some CBC members. Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin would not say anything when asked about the matter Thursday, telling reporters she had to get to the caucus meeting right away. On Wednesday, Moore had said kind words about Pelosi.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who is currently running for caucus chair, wasn't so shy, declaring “I continue to support Leader Pelosi.”

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