Adam Schiff positions himself as possible post-midterm Pelosi replacement

In what will be seen by many as a nightmare “out of the fire, into the frying pan” scenario, it appears that Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is positioning himself to make a dash for Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) job should the 82-year-old step down as the House Democratic leader after the midterm elections.

With less than a week to go before the fate of the nation is decided, most poll analysts predict that Democrats will lose their majority in the House of Representatives.

While Speaker Pelosi has yet to confirm publicly whether or not she will continue in the role as House Dem leader that she has held for two full decades, Fox News Digital is reporting that “an increasingly progressive caucus appears hungry for new blood at the top.”

R Street Institute senior fellow for governance James Wallner spoke to the outlet and noted the age of the party’s current leaders.

“The top three Democratic leaders are all quite old,” he said. “I think there’s a real demand inside the Democratic Party and the Democratic Caucus there in the House… for a new generation of leadership.”

Schiff isn’t the only one eyeing a potential top vacancy. In fact, according to Fox News, he isn’t even the one receiving the most support for the gig. That distinction, thus far, belongs to Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

Having said that, Schiff, 62, has joined Jeffries, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) on the emerging list of contenders should Pelosi finally step aside.

If she does so, it will trigger the first open election for the top spot in twenty years.

According to Wallner, Schiff, who currently serves as the House Intelligence Committee Chairman, appeals to both Democratic moderates and progressives.

“I think having experience certainly helps with [moderates],” he said. “But the nature of that experience being an impeachment manager probably helps with the [progressives].”

In recent years, Schiff has been relentless in his rabid pursuit of former President Donald Trump, a mission that would see him abandon all scruples and repeatedly push debunked, “fake news” theories to whoever would listen.

Most recently, the loathsome lawmaker has been front and center as an outspoken member of the sham Jan. 6 Committee.

But Schiff does face some stiff competition should Pelosi step aside.

As a 52-year-old black man with four years of experience under his belt, Jeffries would be, according to Fox, “a historic choice for Democrats.”

If age is an issue, Schiff may have a leg up on Clyburn and Hoyer, who are 82 and 83, respectively. However, Clyburn, who is also black, has been actively hitting the campaign trail for his fellow Democrats, and Hoyer has managed to rake in $14.2 million for House Dems in the midterms.

Neither Clyburn nor Hoyer have commented on their future plans, but Wallner says, “They both have their own bases of support.”

“This is something Hoyer has wanted for a very long time,” he said. “It’s just, has the moment passed them by?”

Also on the short list of potential challengers is Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (D-N.Y.), House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), and House Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.).

According to Wallner, with the current state of the party, a progressive run wouldn’t surprise him.

“I think your fire-breathing progressive, I’m not sure who that is, but it wouldn’t surprise me to have a candidate come out and make a run,” he said. “That impacts the race’s dynamic in and of itself.”

Melissa Fine

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