Published
5 years agoon
TJ Cox may get to vote for the next Speaker of the House.
Cox is in Washington this week, taking part in freshman orientation. However, his congressional race to supplant incumbent David Valadao (R-Hanford) in the 21st district is yet to be decided.
With Monday’s updates from Kern and Tulare counties, Cox is in the lead for the first time, holding a 436-vote advantage. Votes remain to be counted in the four-county region comprising the district.
What is not yet known is if Cox will have a vote in the Democratic caucus on House speaker.
A Democratic leadership aide tells GV Wire that the caucus will vote Wednesday (Nov. 28) on whether Cox will be allowed to vote for speaker. Then, the caucus will vote on the speakership position itself.
A campaign spokesman said Cox hasn’t made any decision on how he would vote — if given the option. He wants to meet with the candidates. Thus far, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is the only candidate. Cox and Pelosi have no scheduled meetings.
During the campaign, Cox downplayed the Pelosi factor.
“This is what I hear about Nancy Pelosi: absolutely nothing,” Cox told GV Wire in May.
“People that talk to me, they don’t ask about Nancy Pelosi. Those are, quite frankly, Washington parlor games that I won’t play. When we do win, when we take back the House, that’s the point in time I will look at who the leadership should be.”
Pelosi, the current minority leader, is not a shoe-in to ascend to House speaker. There has been an insurrection among Democrats longing for new leadership. Still, they’ve yet to present an alternative plan.
If Cox wins, the Democrats could have a 235-member delegation in the House, a net gain of 40 seats.
In the party caucus, Pelosi needs a simple majority, or 118 votes to be the party’s nominee as speaker.
The full House will then vote as one of its first orders of business in the new session, starting Jan. 3, 2019. On the floor, the entire Congress votes for the speaker. The winner would need a majority, or 218 votes. That means, in theory, up to 17 Democrats could vote for an alternative candidate on the floor, and Pelosi still secures the speakership.
Another member of the Valley’s Democratic caucus, Jim Costa (D-Fresno), has said in the past that he would not vote for Pelosi. In his latest statement to GV Wire, he said he wants a leader who values bipartisanship.
Congressman Jim Costa
“These are the key factors I am considering while finalizing my leadership decisions: I will support leaders who will make the House more inclusive of individual members’ work, remove the partisan roadblocks that stop most members’ legislation from moving forward, and work to make the House more representative of the American people, not political party extremes,” Costa wrote in an email.
The eight-term congressman would not definitively say whether or not he would support Pelosi in the caucus.
Costa is a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers caucus, whose Democratic members have balked at returning Pelosi to the House’s top position.
The Problem Solvers sent Pelosi a letter Nov. 13 laying out reform demands in exchange for their support.
The Washington Times reported: “Pelosi has not agreed to the list, but has made some significant overtures, including allowing more time to read bills before they receive a vote and ensuring legislation generally goes through the committee process rather than be written by leaders behind closed doors.”
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email
Valley Ex-Congressman Makes Statement Following Arrest on Fraud Charges
FBI Arrests Former Valley Congressman TJ Cox on Fraud Charges
Water for Farms is Top Issue as Biden’s Ag Secretary Visits Valley
Congressman Gets Close Look ‘Inside’ Human Body at Clovis Medical School
Democrat Cox Says 2nd Rematch With GOP’s Valadao Depends on Redistricting
GOP Newcomer Outraises Democrat Costa in Valley Congressional Challenge