Rep.-elect Elissa Slotkin joined the coalition of Democrats opposing Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s bid for House speaker this week.
“I will not be supporting Leader Pelosi. I will not,” Ms. Slotkin said during an event hosted by Defense One.
She explained that people “on both sides of the aisle” in her district want to see new leadership. As a representative from Michigan who unseated Republican Rep. Mike Bishop, she would like to have more Midwestern lawmakers in the top positions.
“I have said it many, many times: I never want to be disrespectful to anyone who has served — especially a woman who has broken glass ceilings,” she said. “But you’ve got to do what your district is calling for, and in this case, for me, both sides of the aisle, just people feel that we need a new generation of leadership.”
However, the newcomer is still weighing her options when it comes to the floor vote in January, which includes potentially casting a neutral present vote.
Ms. Slotkin is one of several newly elected Democrats who expressed their disillusionment with the party establishment, though some have remained noncommittal as Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio weighs a potential challenge to Mrs. Pelosi.
More than a dozen Democrats, both new and incumbent, have reportedly signed on to a letter vowing not to vote for Mrs. Pelosi.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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