MSNBC Capitol Hill correspondent Kasie Hunt reported Thursday there is a "long-simmering and very ugly divide" inside the House Democratic Caucus that has spilled into the open with renewed calls from House Democrats for Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) to step down as minority leader.
Host Chris Jansing asked Hunt about Democratic Rep. Linda Sanchez (Calif.), vice chair of the caucus, saying in a Thursday interview that "it's time" for Pelosi to step down from her leadership position.
"I do think we have this real breadth and depth of talent within our caucus and I do think it's time to pass a torch to a new generation of leaders, and I want to be a part of that transition," Sanchez told reporters from the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. "I think there comes a time when you need to pass that torch. And I think it's time."
"What you're seeing is a long-simmering and very ugly divide and argument inside the Democratic Conference going out into the open," Hunt said.
Hunt noted that Sanchez is only 48 years old while Pelosi is 77, helping push some House Democrats to call for a new generation of leadership.
"I think what you're seeing reflected here is a real, deep frustration that there has not been any turnover, any opportunity really for younger Democrats to make a mark," Hunt said. "And there's also concerns that Nancy Pelosi's name is a liability for Democrats running in the 2018 midterm elections."
Hunt said that one of Pelosi's redeeming qualities is that she raises large sums of money for the Democratic Party.
"Not a great story line for Democrats, Chris," Hunt concluded.