Democrats Look for Pelosi Backed Successor

National Journal: “At the beginning of the 114th Congress, a group of seven House Democrats came together and made a plan: They would back Rep. Chris Van Hollen to serve as the party’s next leader. Then Van Hollen decided to run for Senate instead, and those members were left looking for a Plan B. They don’t have one yet. Neither does the caucus.”

“That matters because House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is 75 years old and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer is 76. Pelosi has yet to telegraph when she plans to leave office, nor does she have a favored successor in place—though she was widely thought to be grooming Van Hollen for that role. She has also never gotten along well with Hoyer.”