Nancy Pelosi

Moulton Likely to Get Primary Challenge in 2020

There were reportedly “advanced negotiations” Monday afternoon between Nancy Pelosi and her Democratic opposition - which would allow Pelosi to be elected speaker while still letting some vote against her.

It’s unclear how one of the leaders of the group, Congressman Seth Moulton, plays into all this, but some people who helped get him elected in November are now actively looking to replace him in 2020.

North Shore political activist Bambi Snodgrass and other 6th district progressives are not happy with Moulton’s unrelenting opposition to the House Speaker.

She thinks Moulton’s time “has come and gone,” adding, “Nancy Pelosi is the person most qualified to do the job, hit the ground running on Jan. 3, and start saving democracy immediately.”

Just this fall, Snodgrass was knocking on more than 1,000 doors for Moulton.

But after election day, Snodgrass watched Moulton try to unseat Pelosi without offering a replacement and decided Moulton had misread the moment.

“The lesson that the 2018 midterms should have taught these people is that we want women and we want people of color to lead us and we want the white men to step aside,” Snodgrass said.

Snodgrass said Moulton has now jeopardized his future, “because we are actively looking and talking to people who are potential candidates who are going to primary him in 2020.”

Outgoing state Sen. Barbara L’Italien, who ran unsuccessfully in this year’s third district race despite living in the fifth district, has similar concerns about Moulton and is already looking ahead to possibly challenging him in 2020.

“I am politically savvy enough to know that in order to get things for your district, you cannot be challenging the leadership to the extent that Seth Moulton has," L’Italien said.

Asked to respond, Moulton’s office sent a statement saying Moulton has been calling for new leadership for more than a year and was reelected overwhelmingly.

“Challenging the status quo and taking on the establishment is always met with resistance from those in power, but the American people - and Seth as one of their representatives - know it’s the right thing to do,” the statement read.

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