While the presidential election has come down to the wire and President Donald Trump has complained that the election was unfair, there’s a coup brewing behind the scenes.
And it’s inside the Democratic Party.
At least that’s according to insiders on Capitol Hill after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led the Democrats to a very poor Election Day showing.
As The Horn News reported yesterday, the much anticipated “blue wave” failed.
And someone has to pay.
Democratic insiders say it will be Pelosi.
The Hill spoke to a pair of anonymous moderate Democrats in the House who are exploring the idea of organizing support behind a challenger to Pelosi’s throne. And they already have a replacement candidate in mind.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
According to one of the anonymous lawmakers, “he’s the only one prepared and positioned,” to become Speaker. “He bridges moderates and progressives better than anyone. And most importantly, he’s not Nancy Pelosi.”
Not Nancy Pelosi.
Resentment toward Pelosi had been brewing for quite some time now. Democrats won’t throw Pelosi out of office due to Tuesday’s poor election results alone. The poor performance was, instead, likely the straw that broke the camel’s back.
According to the report, unnamed Democrats have begun reaching out to colleagues who survived the underwhelming election results.
But it’s worth noting that Jeffries and his team, whether he’s aware of a dramatic change in leadership or not, are denying the possibility of a Pelosi replacement. His spokesperson emphasized that the focus is on the presidential election and insisted that Jeffries is running to serve as Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.
Pelosi has managed to lead Democrats as the party changes, with open challenges from one of the party’s brightest new stars, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. But the noise has followed Pelosi around Washington, D.C.
Internally, critics believe she’s lost touch with Democratic voters.
“Americans are clearly afraid of ‘socialism,’ want safe streets and neighborhoods and to vote for people who they believe will help put more money in their pockets,” one of the sources told The Hill. “It’s time for Democrats to elevate a new generation of leadership in both the House and the Senate.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article