MSNBC host Chris Matthews said on Politico's "Off Message" podcast Tuesday that he has heard House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) plans to hand over leadership to Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D., Mass.).
Matthews brought the question of Democratic House leadership up during a discussion with host Edward-Isaac Dovere about what party will control the House after the November elections.
"Somebody hit me with the rumor last night that Nancy Pelosi is going to turn it over to Joey the third," Matthews said. "Have you heard that rumor?"
The podcast host said he had not heard the rumor, but while Matthews said he previously expected Rep. Joe Crowley (D., N.Y.) to succeed Pelosi, Dovere did not appear surprised by the idea Kennedy might take her place.
The podcast host said Crowley is open about his ambitions in the party but a number of House Democrates talk about Kennedy.
"I mean Crowley is more open about wanting it, but there are a lot of Democrats in the House who talk about Kennedy [as the speaker]," Dovere, Politico's chief Washington correspondent, said.
Dovere also pointed out Pelosi is a big fan of Kennedy, which she made clear when she selected him to give the response to President Donald Trump's 2018 State of the Union address.
"And she was very proud to point out that it was her idea completely to make him be the one to do the State of the Union response," Dovere said.