Ike Skelton for Speaker?
Democratic Congressman Gene Taylor has told political publication, The Hill, that he would like to see West-Central Missouri Congressman Ike Skelton become Speaker of the United States House should Democrats hold on to control in November. Taylor, a conservative Democrat from Mississippi, tells The Hill that his ideal candidate for Speaker would be Ike Skelton. The comments indicate a growing dissatisfaction with Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco.
Skelton, at age 78, is an unlikely Speaker candidate. Skelton must win re-election to his own seat first. Skelton is in his 17th term. He finds himself in the toughest re-election campaign he has had in years against Republican Vicky Hartzler.
“Mr. Skelton is flattered, but he has no intention of running for Speaker,” a spokesman for the Missouri congressman, William Chapman, told The Hill.
The Hill reports that few anticipate a serious challenge to Pelosi if Democrats comfortably retain the House in November. If Democrats lose ground and still retain control, that would be a different matter. If Democrats lose the House, Republicans choose the next Speaker.
