Incoming Democratic House members sidestep questions on voting for Pelosi as speaker

Incoming Democratic House members Cori Bush (Mo.) and Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.), both of whom won their races after primary victories over longtime incumbents, would not commit on Sunday to voting to reelect Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) 

“What I’m going to do is make sure that the voices of the people of St. Louis are heard and that we have what we need. And so you will find out then,” Bush told CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday on “State of the Union.”

Bash responded, “That’s not a yes,” with Bush answering, “I’m working with my community.”

When asked the same question, Bowman was similarly noncommittal, saying, “You will find out when my vote is tallied and, again, organizing with our community to figure out what’s best.”

Q: “Will you vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker?

Rep.-elect Bush: “What I’m going to do is make sure that the voices of the people of St. Louis are heard and that we have what we need and so you’ll find out then.”

Rep.-elect Bowman: “You will find out when my vote is tallied.” pic.twitter.com/vAEKMFXkAp

— The Hill (@thehill) December 27, 2020

Bash asked Bowman what input he was soliciting from his constituents ahead of the vote.

“We got to bring H.R. 40 to the floor for a vote. We need reparations for the African American community,” Bowman said, referencing legislation that would authorize a commission to study reparation proposals. “We need a federal jobs guarantee. We need ‘Medicare for all.’”

House Democrats’ underperformance in the 2020 elections significantly narrowed the party’s majority to single digits, which will lessen further after President-elect Joe Biden tapped Reps. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), Cedric Richmond (D-La.) and Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) to be members of his administration in January.