Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) has opted not to seek the position of leader of the House Democrats in the next Congress, according to people familiar with his decision.
The Democratic representative has made a name for himself for his criticism of former President Donald Trump and is also one of nine House members on the Jan. 6 committee. Schiff had considered throwing his hat into the ring for the top position for the House Democrats but is instead looking toward a Senate run, according to Politico.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is expected to not seek another term as senator, giving Schiff the opportunity to run for the position in 2024 when her term ends. However, in the event that Feinstein retires her role as senator early, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has promised to name a black woman to her seat.
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Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is the current front-runner to lead House Democrats in the next Congress should House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) retire from her position.
Pelosi has not given a definitive answer on if she will continue to serve as the House leader for the Democrats, with Republicans sealing their House majority Wednesday, and her husband recently suffered an attack from a home intruder that left him hospitalized. President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) are among the Democrats calling for Pelosi to stay on as leader.
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Republicans won the House majority, albeit a slim one, Wednesday evening. The party had also aimed for a majority in the Senate in the midterm elections but came up short, securing at most 49 seats in the upper chambers of Congress, with the Georgia Senate race between Trump-backed Herschel Walker (R) and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) heading to a runoff.