Democrats only have a narrow shot at taking back the House and the election is still a few weeks away, but at least two members are already putting out feelers for a run at a leadership position in the caucus.
Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois and California Rep. Sara Jacobs are both planning to run for caucus vice chair in the event Democrats take the majority. With the caucus steadily behind Leader Hakeem Jeffries and the rest of the leadership team, the role of vice chair would likely be one of the few spots open for other members to rise in the ranks.
A source familiar with Kelly’s thinking told NOTUS the congresswoman is talking to her colleagues already to garner support and that she’s already shored some up among other Illinois Democrats.
Punchbowl News first reported that Kelly and Jacobs planned to run.
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Kelly, if she won, would be the only non-coastal member of Democratic leadership and only the second Black woman in leadership since Shirley Chisholm in 1981. Kelly ran for vice chair previously in 2020 and lost to now-Chair Rep. Pete Aguilar.
Jacobs would also run for the position, her communications director, Lauren McIlvaine, confirmed. Her fellow Californian, Rep. Ted Lieu, is currently vice chair and will move to become caucus chair in the event Democrats take control of the chamber, a source familiar with his thinking confirmed.
The race would likely be competitive: Jacobs is currently the youngest member of Democratic House Leadership and Kelly is finishing the election cycle as recruitment vice co-chair for the DCCC.
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Helen Huiskes is a reporter at NOTUS and an Allbritton Journalism Institute fellow.
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