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McCarthy: More Republicans Than Democrats Want Pelosi Re-Elected

Majority leader says minority leader perhaps stayed on one term too long

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy thinks fellow Californian Nancy Pelosi will win her bid to remain minority leader. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy thinks fellow Californian Nancy Pelosi will win her bid to remain minority leader. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Tuesday that Rep. Nancy Pelosi has more support from Republicans for her to stay on as minority leader than she does in her own caucus, but he expects her to be re-elected. 

“I think Nancy has more support in the Republican conference for her to stay leader than maybe in her own conference,” McCarthy said in an interview with The Washington Post’s James Hohmann.

While McCarthy said he thinks she will be re-elected as minority leader in caucus elections on Wednesday, “she’s already lost the base of her conference,” he added. Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan is challenging Pelosi for her leadership position.

McCarthy likened Pelosi’s tenure at the top of the caucus to a senator who stayed one term too long.

“I kind of feel like Nancy’s at that point,” he said.

McCarthy also expressed shock that Pelosi is keeping the leadership of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee intact for the 2018 cycle after its performance during this year’s elections.

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