Rep. Joe Crowley (D., N.Y.) said Sunday if Democrats win back the House in the 2018 midterms, he likely wouldn't challenge House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to become Speaker of the House if she ran again for the position.
On "Fox News Sunday," host Chris Wallace discussed with Crowley, the House Democratic Caucus chairman, the Republican focus on Pelosi as a bogeyman in their ads for House races. Republicans are trying to hold onto the majority in what is historically a difficult year for the White House incumbent's party, the president's first midterm.
"I think it's more reflective of a fact that Republicans are bankrupt on ideas," Crowley said. "They don't have anything else to offer except to go after Nancy Pelosi to win elections. If they think that's a winning strategy, they're completely mistaken and wrong."
Wallace noted to Crowley that Lamb distanced himself from Pelosi to win in the district that went heavily for Trump, saying he wouldn't support her for Speaker if she sought the gavel, but Crowley retorted Lamb won by running a local issues race.
"If Democrats win the House in November, will you run either to replace Nancy Pelosi if she steps down or against her if she doesn't?" Wallace asked.
"If Nancy Pelosi stays, I don't see a scenario by which I would challenge her for that position," Crowley said.
"Do you want to be Speaker?" Wallace asked.
Crowley didn't directly answer, saying he and the rest of the Democratic leadership are focused on solely on the goal of reclaiming the majority. Since the Tea Party wave in 2010, Democrats have been in the minority in the House.
Pelosi has faced some dissension in her ranks due to disgruntlement over the continued failure of the Democrats to win back a majority, but she has defended herself as a "master legislator."