The position of Speaker of the House has seen its fair share of turbulence not just in recent weeks, but in recent years. Whether it is John Boehner’s 2015 resignation, Paul Ryan’s 2018 decision not to seek reelection, or Kevin McCarthy’s 2023 removal, instability has been the theme.
But there’s one recent Speaker whose experience in the position was radically different: Nancy Pelosi’s tenure as Speaker was not only stable, but she was also able to leave her mark on American politics.
What is it about Pelosi’s leadership that made her such an effective Speaker?
My study of congressional leadership elections shows that it is important to understand what members of Congress want from a Speaker. It’s not a simple popularity contest; members seek a Speaker who makes their congressional lives easier. While serving as Speaker, Pelosi was very effective at satisfying the multiple demands of her caucus.
Take fundraising. Campaigns are expensive, and members of Congress want a leader who can bring in the cash. This is one of Pelosi’s longtime strengths. In 2020, her joint fundraising committee raised over $20 million, while her leadership PAC donated thousands of dollars to almost every Democrat in a close House race. By filling up campaign coffers, Pelosi fulfilled one of the key duties of Speaker.
Another vital role of Speaker is placating a member’s ambition for power within both the House and their caucus. Legislators desire membership on particular committees, or want to climb the ladder of power within their party. Here again, Pelosi was able to deftly handle disputes.
In 2018, Rep. Barbara Lee lost the race for caucus chair to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, which left Democrats without a woman of color in leadership. Pelosi quickly created a new position that would oversee the Steering and Policy Committee and immediately offered it to Lee. This move not only served the ambition of Lee, but it also satisfied the demands of many other members of the caucus.
Members want a Speaker who can help them move legislation that is important to them — another of Pelosi’s strengths. She was able to keep her caucus largely united on critical issues — no small feat, given the ideological chasm separating groups like the Blue Dogs and the Squad. She helped to shepherd through the Democrats’ biggest legislative accomplishments of the past 15 years, ranging from Dodd-Frank to the Inflation Reduction Act.
But Pelosi’s maneuverings to pass the Affordable Care Act may be the best example of this. As Molly Ball documented in her book “Pelosi,” the Speaker used a bevy of approaches to earn buy-in for this complex legislation. Pelosi promised future votes on bills concerning water issues to earn the votes from two members from California. She added a variety of tweaks to the bill, ranging from tax breaks for paper companies to tax increases on medical devices, to ensure the support from other members. Her ability to assuage and address the concerns of her caucus were critical to ensuring the passage of Obamacare.
What can newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson learn from Pelosi? The role of Speaker is a challenging position, as members have many competing demands, but history shows that these needs can be met. The House GOP faces a complicated position, given its thin majority and the presence of a sizable minority that is focused largely on procedural issues. In light of the challenges faced by recent Speakers, it may be wise for Johnson to seek inspiration from Nancy Pelosi.
Michael E. Bednarczuk, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Austin Peay State University. He studies political behavior and public service.