Sixteen House Democrats and incoming members of Congress signed and released a letter to their Democratic colleagues on Monday saying they "believe more strongly than ever that the time has come for new leadership in our caucus."
"We are thankful to Leader Pelosi for her years of service for our Country and our Caucus," the letter reads. "She is a historic figure whose leadership has been instrumental to some of our party's most important legislative achievements."
The anti-Pelosi letter is here. 16 names: pic.twitter.com/QNUKRZGtLE
— Lissandra Villa (@LissandraVilla) November 19, 2018
"However, we also recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran on and won on a message of change. Our majority came on the backs of candidates who said that they would support new leadership because voters in hard-won districts, and across the country, want to see real change in Washington," the letter continues. "We promised to change the status quo, and we intend to deliver on that promise. Therefore, we are committed to voting for new leadership in both our Caucus meeting and on the House Floor."
The signed letter against Pelosi comes amid calls from Reps. Seth Moulton (D., Mass.) and Tim Ryan (D., Ohio) for Rep. Marcia Fudge (D., Ohio) to challenge Pelosi for speaker.
Fudge, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, sat down for an interview with the Washington Post last Thursday, where she said she's been "overwhelmed" by all the support from some of her Democratic colleagues. She told the Post there are "probably closer to 30" Democrats who have privately told her they would be willing to vote against Pelosi.
Moulton publicly praised Fudge last week on CNN, saying she is "the kind of new leader that we need in this party."
"She’s in touch with middle America. She understands what the American people want," he said on Thursday. "She’s a next generation leader that people will look to and say, ‘That’s the future of our party, that’s the future of our country, and that’s exactly the kind of leader that I want to see as our next speaker.’"
Fudge also spoke to HuffPost last week, telling them she doesn't "Hate Nancy" and that she has been "a very good leader." However, she believes "it’s time for a new one." She went on to talk about how she doesn't believe Pelosi has been vocal enough about supporting African Americans in Congress.