Pelosi's Biggest Challenger for Speakership Backs Off

As far as giving thanks goes, Nancy Pelosi is likely uttering a word of gratitude for this development: Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio on Tuesday threw her support behind Pelosi as speaker of the House, in the process removing her name from the list of potential challengers. CNN reports that no Democrat has formally said he or she will make a bid for the position, but Fudge had thus far seemed the most likely to do so, as she had aired it as a possibility. The AP paints it as "a blow to efforts to topple the California Democrat." "I now join my colleagues in support of the leadership team of Pelosi, Hoyer and Clyburn," Fudge said in a statement that also gave backing to the current Nos. 2 and 3, Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn.

Fudge will have one new title, however: Pelosi announced Tuesday she will resurrect the House Administration subcommittee on elections, which will focus on voting rights access, and that Fudge will serve as committee chair. The AP reports it's "an example of the reach of the leader's office to dole out plum assignments to lawmakers—or withhold them—as she works to shore up votes to become speaker." (The developments also came on the same day Fudge's past support for an ex-judge who allegedly murdered his wife was questioned.)