A Push for New Leadership

Brownsville- While she easily secured the votes among Democrats, there is question as to whether Pelosi will manage to obtain the majority of votes as a band of Democrats, including one Texas Representative calling for new leadership.

A letter signed by 16 House Democrats state their opposition. It reads in part, “Our majority came on the backs of candidates who said that they would support new leadership…. We promised to change the status quo and we intend to deliver on that promise.”

One of the signatures featured is U.S. Representative Filemon Vela from Brownsville.

In an interview with the American-Statesman, Vela explains how after 16 years of Pelosi in office, he believes it is time for the Democratic party to receive a change in governance.

“As a progressive young Democrat what I want to see is more progressive values brought to the Democratic party, and I think at the end of the day Pelosi would help with this,” said Norma Rubio, president of UTRGV’s Progressive Young Democrats organization.

Rubio explains how the Democratic party regaining power of the House in the midterm elections reflects a change in values for Americans.

“We saw how people are wanting more…progressive values,” said Rubio.

Vela retracted his support for Pelosi in 2016 and in April, accused her of lying about the levee barriers approved for funding along the border, 25 miles of which are to run along the Rio Grande Valley.

Click on the video below to watch the full story.