Today on the Hill: House Democrats Wrestle With Pelosi Speakership Question

House Democrats are bracing for a contentious battle over the speaker’s gavel. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) — the presumed favorite for the speakership in the 116^th Congress — is facing pushback from a host of incumbent and incoming Democrats who say they have the votes to block her path to victory. While both sides jostle for support behind the scenes, a potential challenger to Leader Pelosi has emerged in former Congressional Black Caucus chairwoman Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) who indicated that she would be interested after other members encouraged her to run. The House Democratic caucus is expected to vote on its leadership slate on November 29, with a final vote on the House Floor in January after the new Congress gavels in.

Following the passage of Coast Guard reauthorization, the Senate has teed up a final roll call vote on the nomination of Michelle Bowman to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. Senators will also vote on a motion to discharge a resolution of disapproval (S.J.Res. 65) — sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) — that would block the sale of offensive weapons to Bahrain. There are no votes scheduled in the House today.