Sires backing Pelosi for speaker

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article said Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said she would not back Pelosi’s bid for a leadership role. That was incorrect and Watson Coleman is backing the longtime California congresswoman for Speaker of the House.

Rep. Albio Sires will back House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House, the congressman said Friday.

“As the 115^th Congress draws to a close, we must look forward to the issues that our party will focus on when we take the majority in the 116^th Congress,” Sires said. “Among the many important priorities for New Jerseyans and Americans, Congress must protect and improve access to healthcare, address the student debt crisis, and repair our crumbling infrastructure.  Nancy Pelosi has championed these issues and has shown that she can help form a consensus around important pieces of legislation that improve lives in the 8^th District and across the country.  Therefore, when the vote for Speaker is held, I will be supporting her.”

Every one of New Jersey’s Democratic House challengers expect for Tom Malinowski said during their respective campaigns that they would not vote Pelosi into a leadership role. Malinowski said he would consider the issue following Tuesday’s election.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer has also said he wouldn’t back the longtime Democratic leader.