Hakeem Jeffries: Nancy Pelosi’s likely successor formally declares Democratic leadership bid

Republicans are set to hold an extremely slim majority in the House of Representatives

Nancy Pelosi steps down as Democratic leader after losing House

With the Republican Party projected to win a slim majority in the US House of Representatives and Nancy Pelosi stepping down from the Democratic leadership, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries has officially declared he is running for his party’s top job – and so far, he is unopposed.

In an emotional address on the House floor on Thursday, Ms Pelosi said lawmakers “must move boldly into the future” and remain “open to fresh possibilities.” She will continue to serve her district as the congresswoman representing San Francisco, but she will not seek re-election to a leadership role.

Current House minority leader Kevin McCarthy has already cleared the first hurdle toward being elected House Speaker but with more than 30 of his members declining to back him.

The Republican was notably absent from Ms Pelosi’s announcement in the lower chamber – a rebuke after several other GOP figures turned out to join Democrats in applauding the long-running lawmaker.

When asked by reporters why he missed the speech, he claimed he “had meetings”.

Key points

• Nancy Pelosi will not seek re-election for Democratic leadership
• Republicans win control of the House
• Senate Republicans re-elect Mitch McConnell as minority leader
• Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrates Democrats holding the Senate
• Kevin McCarthy clears first test in bid to become House speaker

[18 November 2022 16:20 · Andrew Naughtie]

Lauren Boebert posts premature victory video

Colorado Rep Lauren Boebert has been mocked online for declaring victory in her too-close-to-call race for re-election to the House of Representatives.

The MAGA Republican lawmaker is facing off against Democratic challenger Adam Frisch in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District.

As of Friday morning — 10 days after election day on 8 November — it looks likely that the race is headed to an automatic recount. With 99 per cent of votes now counted, the right-wing extremist is leading her Democratic opponent by just 551 votes or 0.16 percentage points.

Oliver O’Connell has more.

[18 November 2022 16:50 · Andrew Naughtie]

Aguilar running for caucus chair

The expected trio of Democratic leadership hopefuls are all three now out of the gate, with Congressman Pete Aguilar joining Hakeem Jeffries and Katherine Clark with a formal campaign announcement – in his case, to become Democratic caucus chair:

[18 November 2022 17:20 · Andrew Naughtie]

Why McCarthy skipped Pelosi’s farewell speech

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy revealed why he skipped outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s address announcing that she would step aside from her position as Democratic leader.

Mr McCarthy, largely expected to succeed Ms Pelosi as speaker of the House, told reporters he was busy in meetings.

“I had meetings, but normally, the others would do it during votes — I wish she could have done that, I could have been there,” he said, The New York Post reported.

Eric Garcia writes:

[18 November 2022 17:50 · Andrew Naughtie]

More trouble for McCarthy as he tries to lock up speakership

It is already clear that Kevin McCarthy will have only the tiniest majority to work with as the GOP takes the House majority – but even his path to becoming speaker is not entirely clear, with more of his hardcore right-wing caucus coming out to say they will not vote to elect him to the top job: