A call from the Congressional Black Caucus to have at least one of the top House leadership seats being held by an African-American lawmaker if Democrats regain control is "entirely appropriate," Rep. Tim Ryan said Friday.
The Ohio Democrat also told CNN's "New Day" that he would not support House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's return to her former speaker role, as he thinks the party needs change.
"If you look at one of the major power structures within the Democratic Party, it's the African-American community, and it's African-American women who have carried so many races," Ryan said. "I think it's entirely appropriate for us to have in the top two leadership spots, African-American representation."
In addition, Democrats need to start winning elections in the South, said Ryan, and having an African-American lawmaker in a leadership will "allow us to expand the field and start winning more and more races in the South and industrial Midwest, where we lost so many."
"I have been saying this since last year, It's time for us to make a change," said Ryan. "I think there will be a viable challenge to Leader Pelosi this year. This will not be a coronation."
Ryan, though, said he does not have "any intention" of running for ppeaker.
"I am not necessarily saying it needs to be me but it needs to be somebody," said Ryan. "If we are going to rebuild the blue wall we need somebody that will speak to our base, but also talk to some of the Trump voters who are very disenchanted."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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