Pelosi flashes survival skills – and she’ll need them in ’19

In this Dec. 13, 2018, photo, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California holds a news conference at the Capitol in Washington. By dividing and conquering Democratic insurgents, Nancy Pelosi has shown she has the savvy she'll need when she becomes House speaker next month, which seems certain.

In threat to Pelosi, 16 Dems say they’ll back new leadership

Sixteen Democrats who've opposed Nancy Pelosi's quest to become speaker released a letter Monday saying they will vote for "new leadership" when the House picks its leaders in January, underscoring a significant threat to her effort to lead her party's House majority in the next Congress. The letter's release suggests that rather than spending the next six weeks focusing on a fresh agenda to present to Americans, House Democrats could be consumed with a bitter and attention-grabbing internal leadership fight.

National Democrats back Rohrabacher challenger in effort to avert top-two lockout

National Democrats announced Friday that they would back businessman Harley Rouda in the crowded field to unseat GOP Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, hoping to avoid being locked out of a targeted race that could prove pivotal to the Democrats' effort to retake the House. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Friday added Rouda to its Red to Blue program, tantamount to an endorsement in the race for the 48th Congressional District, which extends from Laguna Beach to Seal Beach.

Pelosi’s Doomsday Scenario: Dem leader could face rebellion if House takeover fails

House Democrats see a big opportunity this year to seize control of the chamber after years in the wilderness, but the favorable landscape has emerged as a double-edged sword for Nancy Pelosi - putting high expectations on the House minority leader to deliver or face a resurgent effort to unseat her. The California Democrat has held onto her leadership post for roughly a dozen years, brushing aside past challenges and touting her political acumen all along, despite her party being relegated to the minority since the 2010 midterms.

Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Joseph Crowley, Linda Sanchez

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., center, joined from left by, Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., hold a news conference on the first morning of a government shutdown after a divided Senate rejected a funding measure last night, at the Capitol in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. WASHINGTON - The government shutdown is set to sow more disruption and political peril Monday after the Senate inched closer but ultimately fell short of an agreement that would have reopened federal agencies before the beginning of the workweek.

Democrats, GOP hold out hope for ending government shutdown

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., walks to the chamber on the first morning of a government shutdown after a divided Senate rejected a funding measure last night, at the Capitol in Washington, Saturday, Jan.... . Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., arrives for a meeting of fellow Republicans on the first morning of a government shutdown after a divided Senate rejected a funding measure, at the Capitol in Washington, Saturday,... .

Transgender woman alleges discrimination in firing

A recent UNM graduate says she was fired from an internship in Democratic Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham's office because she is transgender. In this March 17, 2017, file photo, from left, Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M., Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., and Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Calif., meet with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington.

On Capitol Hill, few name names on sexual harassment

But perhaps tellingly, the woman who came forward with allegations, Leeann Tweeden, is not a member of the Capitol Hill community. In the House and Senate, lawmakers and staffers alike say sexual harassment is a common problem that makes Congress no different from other industries roiled in recent weeks by documented cases of harassment and even assault.

APNewsBreak: Lujan Grisham tells Senate leader to leave race

In this Jan. 20, 2015, file photo, State Democratic Sen. Michael Padilla stands at the New Mexico state capitol in Santa Fe, N.M. New Mexico Democratic gubernatorial candidate Michelle Lujan Grisham says Padilla should leave his race for lieutenant governor over claims he harassed women as a city of Albuquerque supervisor.

GOP blocks Dem efforts to boost tax benefits for parents

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., left, joined by Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., questions House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, about tax relief provisions for disaster victims as the panel begin the mar... . Volumes of tax regulations are stacked on the dais as the House Ways and Means Committee begins the markup process of the GOP's far-reaching tax overhaul, the first major revamp of the tax system in three decades, on Cap... .

Female lawmakers cite harassment in Congress

In this Oct. 29, 2016, file photo, then-Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., speaks to volunteers at a home serving as a canvassing site to train and organize supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in Cincinnati. WASHINGTON -- One current and three former female members of Congress said they have been sexually harassed or subjected to hostile sexual comments by their male colleagues while serving in the House.

A Change For Democrats?

Much has been written, with good reason, about the dysfunction of the GOP majorities in the U.S. House of Representatives and States Senate, but it does seem that they are not alone in being a party in conflict. As The Washington Post reported last week, "A senior House Democrat said Thursday that it's time for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and two top lieutenants to prepare to step down and make way for the next generation of lawmakers in her caucus."

Senior House Dem: Time for ‘a new generation of leaders’

In this July 25, 2016 file photo, Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., speaks during the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Sanchez says it's time for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other veteran leaders to make way for a new generation of Democratic leaders.

From Times Opinion pages: Why Dianne Feinstein shouldn’t run again

At age 84, Dianne Feinstein is the oldest of the 100 United States senators. And the word, both in Washington and around California, is that she plans to run for reelection next year to a six-year term that will end when she's 91. That would squeak her in under the actuarial wire.

Tom Reed: The dignity of developing our workforce

"American citizens have worked every job, every occupation, no matter what it might be-no matter how grueling, how challenging, or even how dangerous," he said during his weekly address. His message was there is dignity in every honest job, and there good paying career opportunities available now-and you don't need to run up tens of thousands of dollars of debt earning a four-year college degree to get those jobs.

Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme…

Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme Court ahead of an expected ruling on abortion clinic restrictions on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. / AFP / Mandel Ngan Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme Court ahead of an expected ruling on abortion clinic restrictions on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC.