Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said last week she was "100 percent" confident she would be speaker of the House come January, but two Democrats leading the campaign against her are as certain of new leadership, saying Tuesday they are also "100 percent confident" they can "forge new leadership."
Rep. Filemon Vela (D., Texas) told CNN, "I am 100 percent confident we can forge new leadership," citing efforts to collect signatures from other representatives to oppose Pelosi.
"We are trying to do the right thing for the party by solving this ahead of time, Rep. Seth Moulton (D., Mass.) added.
Last week, Pelosi told CNN host Chris Cuomo she was "100 percent" sure she would return as speaker of the House after Democrats gained enough seats in the midterms to take the majority.
Moulton and Vela, however, are confident in their efforts to oppose the current minority leader. "I'm confident that at this point," Vela said, "we have a number of current and incoming members committed to going to the floor and voting for someone else and not voting present." They intend to present their letter, and its signatures, before the Nov. 28 House Democratic Caucus election.
Though many newly elected representatives ran on opposing Pelosi as speaker, seeking new blood for the position, many are still expected to support her, or at least not actively oppose her.
Incoming Congresswomen Abigail Spanberger (D., Va.), who unseated Rep. David Brat (R., Va), said "I won't vote for [Pelosi] under any circumstances."
Another newly elected representative, Max Rose (D., N.Y.), told Fox News, "I am not going to vote for her. No ifs, ands or buts, under any circumstances."
Another supporter of Pelosi for speaker is President Donald Trump himself, who tweeted on election day, "In all fairness, Nancy Pelosi deserves to be chosen Speaker of the House by the Democrats. If they give her a hard time, perhaps we will add some Republican votes. She has earned this great honor!"
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1060162807960870913
Pelosi will need 218 votes to be named speaker. Democrats are expected to hold between 225 and 235 seats depending on how some races, still being counted, are decided.