Rep. Tony Cardenas (D., Calif.) refused to back House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) during an appearance Wednesday on CNN with hosts John Berman and Poppy Harlow.
Berman asked Cardenas about a meeting he attended after Georgia's special election where lawmakers discussed replacing Pelosi as the House Democratic leader.
"Do you feel that is necessary?" Berman asked.
Instead of answering whether he believes Pelosi should be replaced, Cardenas addressed the necessity of holding meetings like the one that occurred after the special election.
"I think that those meetings are necessary," Cardenas said. "We're a body of members elected by the public and the bottom line is this: The question I have to my colleagues is are we putting our best foot forward? What do we need to do?’"
Cardenas pointed out that Democrats lost the House in 2010 and have been unable to regain it since then.
"What are we doing to make sure our message is there, that we're working for the people of America?" Cardenas said. "We care about children's education, we care about health care, we care about those things. Obviously, we need to do a better job of communicating that."
"Does that mean with or without Nancy Pelosi as Democratic leader?" Berman asked again.
Cardenas dodged the question.
"No one person is more important in this country," Berman said. "And the bottom line is this: we need to move on with our best foot forward, with the best plan, with the best individuals and having the best, honest message."
"Can you do that with Nancy Pelosi? Yes or no?" Harlow asked.
"As far as I'm concerned, we need to look in the mirror and realize whether we can or can't and then move forward and make some tough decisions," Cardenas said.
"Undecided," Berman said.
"That's not an answer, but we have to get to commercial," Harlow said.
"That is an answer. Thank you," Cardenas responded.