House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) made a face on MSNBC Sunday when asked about a contingent of the Democratic Party that wants to see her step down from her leadership position.
On her program "AM Joy," liberal MSNBC host Joy Reid discussed with Pelosi the hopes of Democrats in 2018 to win back a majority in the House of Representatives, which they lost in the 2010 Tea Party sweep and have been unable to win back since.
"There is still a contingent on the left side of the Democratic Party—and it's ironic because you are also a liberal member of the party—that would like to see you ousted as leader," Reid said.
Pelosi's face fell and she grimaced as Reid continued.
"If the Democrats were to retake the House, do you foresee a challenge to your leadership?" Reid asked.
"With all due respect, I disagree with your characterization," Pelosi said. "I have [the] overwhelming support of my caucus. There are some people there who disagree with me, and that's OK, but I would not say that it's a challenge from the left, because I am on the left."
She said Republicans use her progressive politics against her; a recent example was the special House election in Georgia when the GOP successfully tied Democrat Jon Ossoff to Pelosi, who is nationally unpopular.
She said the challenges to her leadership were about others' "ambition."
High-ranking Democratic Rep. Linda Sanchez (D., Calif.) recently said, however, that Pelosi should step aside, along with fellow party leaders Rep. Steny Hoyer (D., Md.) and James Clyburn (D., S.C.). Other Democrats have also called for Pelosi to move on in what MSNBC called a "ugly divide" in the party.
Pelosi has defended herself as a "master legislator" in the past after calls for her ouster.