U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. (CNN video screenshot)
A majority of Americans believe someone else – not Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. – should be the speaker of the U.S. House.
And among members of her own party, a bare majority of 53% say she should be allowed to stay in the powerful position, actually in line to become president should the situation arise behind only the vice president.
The Morning Consult results revealed, "House Democrats' underperformance in the 2020 elections leaves Speaker Nancy Pelosi with little breathing room for the chamber's January vote to decide whether she retains the gavel in the 117th Congress. New Morning Consult/Politico polling shows a slim majority of Democratic voters believe that the longtime California lawmaker should remain in charge.
"Fifty-three percent of Democrats in the Dec. 18-20 survey said House Democrats should keep Pelosi as speaker, while a third said the caucus should choose someone else. Among all voters, 56 percent said Democrats should find a new leader."
Democrats stumbled badly during the 2020 elections, losing significant power across the states in legislative races. In the U.S. House, they lost about a dozen seats – some results still are being contested. And with Joe Biden presuming to be president, and picking some House members for an administrative team, the Democrats could have a majority of only a couple of seats come January.
That means any defection by as few as a handful of Democrats on any vote Pelosi would lose.
The poll showed among Democrats, on the issue of their own leadership, 53% said Pelosi should remain, 14% were uncertain and 33% called for "someone else." For all voters, it was 31% say Pelosi should stay, 13% uncertain and 56% want someone else.
Among Republicans, 48% want their leader, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, to remain, 25% are uncertain and 28% say someone else. For all voters, regarding GOP leadership, 26% say McCarthy should stay, 34% don't know and 40% want someone else.
The poll reported, "Technically, Pelosi and McCarthy — as well as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) — have already been re-elected by their caucuses for another term. But in Pelosi’s case, House rules dictate that speakers must garner 218 votes on the floor — a majority of the chamber.
"Most nonpartisan elections analysts projected that House Democrats would add at least a handful of seats to their column during the 2020 elections. Instead, the GOP ate into their ranks, picking up at least 10 seats. As a result, Pelosi will not be able to afford many defections for January’s vote if she hopes to maintain her grip on the chamber."
Pelosi's authority already has been undermined several ways, including her rejection for months of more coronavirus relief for Americans despite multiple proposals that she was given. Now that Biden is presumed president-elect, she's willing to sign off on that, although it still hasn't been accomplished.
Also, a crop of newcomers to the House has been critical of Pelosi. Progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said that it was time for Pelosi to step aside.
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