Rep. Diana DeGette will no longer pursue the post of Majority Whip in the new Democratic congress. As The Denver Post reports:
Almost two weeks after she said she was considering entering the race for Democratic Majority Whip, Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Denver said Tuesday she’s decided not to run for the position.
That prevents what could have been a bruising battle with Rep. James Clyburn, D-SC., current head of the Democratic Caucus and the sole African-American in Democratic leadership.
“With everything else that’s going on, she did not want to add another divisive contest,” said DeGette spokesman Brandon MacGilllis. “For the good of the caucus, she decided not to run.”
Democratic leadership elections will be Thursday, with all House Democrats voting.
DeGette will remain as chief deputy whip, so at least she gets to whip somebody.
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No Pat Schroeder
The embarrassment was Bush’s veto of DeGette’s stem cell research bill. She’s going to march that one back into the Oval Office.
That she’s not distinguished herself except for the stem cell research bill. Not a fighter. Not as bad as Allard in the Senate, but working on it. That’s all.
DeGette has distinguished herself by very reliably voting the party line and by not making any enemies. No she isn’t a showhorse. But, her gentle disposition makes her someone who can repeatedly contact any member of the Democratic caucus without pising them off. Whip is not a good job for a tempermental politician with a big ego. It is a job for someone who values the team’s accomplishments more than her own resume. Even her decision to bow out of the Whip race shows a “don’t rock the boat” attitude that the Whip’s organization works hard to foster.
And, her stem cell research bill, while hardly the blockbuster legislation of the session, was one of the very few pieces of legislation that any Democrat managed to get passed in a Republican dominated session. This speaks to her ability to persaude her fellow members of Congress on legislation, which is what a whip does.
OK, I confess that I never thought of the traits needed in a whip. I’ll take you at your word.
Udall supposedly doesn’t like her and John Salazar has obviously ideological differences with her. My guess is that she had her own vote and perhaps Ed Perlmutter.
Udall, Salazar, and Perlmutter all supported DeGette’s campaign for Whip. Perlmutter helped to lobby the freshmen on DeGette’s behalf.
DeGette had considerable support within the Democratic caucus, but wanted to avoid another bruising battle within the caucus after the Murtha/Hoyer debacle. She will remain a Chief Deputy Whip. DeGette is now well-positioned to run for Whip the next time the position opens up.