Group tells Pelosi not to appoint Himes to DCCC

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes

A left-liberal group that identifies itself as the “Elizabeth Warren Wing’’ of the Democratic Party is calling on House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi not to name Rep. Jim Himes as the next chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

In an email to supporters, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which also goes by BoldProgressives.org, said: “Nancy Pelosi has a big decision to make: Who will lead the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), the organization responsible for electing more Democrats to the U.S. House?’’

The group quotes a Bloomberg Businesssweek story headlined “Wall Street’s favorite Democrat,’’ which describes Himes, an ex-Goldman Sachs executive, as a lawmaker who “isn’t shy about defending the industry or decrying Wall Street bashing.’’ PCCC tells its supporters to “call Nancy Pelosi right now and tell her Jim Himes’ appointment would hurt Democratic chances in 2016.

Himes is one of several House Democrats whose names have been mentioned as the next head of the “D-triple-C,’’ as it’s known. Chairmanship of the Democratic Party organization responsible for overseeing Democratic campaigns for House seats represents a huge political gamble for anyone leading it.

Losses such as those suffered by Democrats in last week’s election can damage a political career. The current chair, Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., is stepping down after a Democratic net loss of 12 seats last week. But a successful result at the DCCC helm can elevate a chairman into the ranks of party leadership in the House _ and beyond. Democrats are expected to fare better in 2016 because it is a presidential year, which typically brings out more Democratic voters.

A Himes spokesman, Greg Vadala, said that any characterization of Himes as a shill for Wall Street is false. Vadala pointed to Himes’ work with Enterprise Community Partners on construction of affordable housing in New York City, and his role in writing sections of the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, aimed at reining in Wall Street.

“Jim was proud to step up and play a leading role in writing and fighting for Wall Street reform to protect consumers and bring stability to the markets during a very turbulent time in our nation’s history,’’ Vadala said. “He has consistently defended the law along with its creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and its provisions that brought the derivatives market into the light of day for the first time.”

PCCC is at the heart of the support movement for Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who has been talked about as a potential Democratic presidential nominee in 2016.  Warren “was the most popular campaigner for Democrats this year because voters love her big economic populist ideas _ including Wall Street reform and accountability,’’ PCCC said in its appeal against Himes.

Warren helped establish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau before winning a Senate seat in 2012. In her Senate campaign, the PCCC “was Warren’s No.-1 grassroots supporter, raising over $1.17 million through over 70,000 small-dollar donations,’’ said Laura Friedenbach, PCCC spokeswoman.

 

Daniel Freedman