The decision by Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., to run for the Senate could touch off a House leadership battle, The Wall Street Journal is reporting.
Luján, who serves as the assistant House Speaker, announced on Monday he would run for the seat Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M. will vacate in 2020.
The Journal noted that Luján’s potential departure will spark an inevitable leadership fight among House Democrats. It pointed out that by running for the Senate he will forgo the opportunity to move higher in the Democratic leadership.
Meanwhile, the newspaper said the current top leadership of the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md. and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., are all close to 80.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. is already considered a potential candidate for the Speaker’s post, according to the Journal. And Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill, is also said to be a potential candidate for any leadership position.
With Luján gone, it would open the door to other candidates seeking to move up into leadership posts in the House, the Journal said.
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