Massachusetts Rep. Moulton Backs Ryan Bid To Lead House Dems
BOSTON (AP) — Another Massachusetts congressman has thrown his support behind U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan's bid to unseat Nancy Pelosi as the Democratic leader in the House.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton said in a statement Tuesday that Americans sent a clear message in the recent election that the status quo isn't working. He said the Democratic Party must respond to challenges posed by Republican President-elect Donald Trump.
"Tim represents a new generation of leaders who are ready to make real change, rather than renew the status quo, and the future of our party demands that kind of leadership now more than ever," Moulton said in a press release.
Ryan, an Ohio Democrat, announced plans earlier this month to challenge Pelosi, a California Democrat who served four years as speaker before Republicans won back the House in 2011.
Moulton's endorsement wasn't surprising. He previously led a successful effort to delay the leadership vote, now scheduled for Wednesday. Moulton's 6th Congressional District includes Gloucester, Marblehead and Salem.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch announced his support for Ryan on Monday. Lynch said he respected Pelosi but felt it was time for a change.
Lynch, a former ironworker whose 8th Congressional District includes portions of Boston, Brockton and Quincy, said he believes that Ryan "understands the plight of American workers and that he can help us regain the support of lunch bucket Democrats who go out to work every morning and struggle to raise families but haven't had a raise in a long, long time."
Other members of the state's all-Democratic delegation are sticking with Pelosi.
Rep. Niki Tsongas, whose 3rd Congressional District includes Lowell and Lawrence, said with Republicans controlling the House, Senate and about to take the White House, it's critical that Democrats fight for their core beliefs.
"To do that will require an experienced leader like Nancy Pelosi who has demonstrated a formidable and unmatched capacity to bring together a very diverse party," Tsongas said. "That is why I am supporting her, in addition to valuing having a woman at the leadership table."
Other members of the Massachusetts delegation backing Pelosi include Joe Kennedy, whose 4th Congressional District stretches from Brookline and Newton to Taunton and Fall River; Richard Neal, whose 1st Congressional District covers much of the western part of the state including Springfield; and Katherine Clark, whose 5th Congressional District stretches from Winthrop to Framingham.
Jim McGovern, whose 2nd Congressional District includes Worcester and Northampton, is also backing Pelosi, describing her as "a smart, effective, and tenacious leader for House Democrats."
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Associated Press writer Bob Salsberg contributed to this report.
