Sixteen party members signed a letter opposing Nancy Pelosi's ascension to the speakership when Democrats regained control of the House.
Pelosi had led the House Democratic caucus since 2003 and had previously served as speaker from 2007 to 2011.
In December of last year, Pelosi came to an agreement that would limit her tenure to four years as speaker, and she went on to earn the support of many of the moderate and newly-elected lawmakers who were initially resistant to her leadership.
The speaker was able to point to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and theAffordable Care Act as consequential pieces of legislation that she shepherded through the House.
The Washington Post reported that Pelosi is expected to leave her post at the end of the current Congress, with Democrats anticipating a huge leadership shift that will define their party for years to come.
For as long as Pelosi has led the caucus, the majority leader and minority whip have been Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina.
The party's House leadership team is going to be vastly different in the coming years.
Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Katherine Clark of Massachusetts.
Andrew Harnik.
He's brilliant, smooth and fearless.
A debate over who will serve in leadership when Pelosi steps down from her position could expose a deep gulf between progressives and moderates.
With a growing progressive wing of the party coming into its own, there will likely be a question on how the party will counter the influence of former President Donald Trump.
The next generation of leadership will have to listen intently to members, according to Rep. Ro Khanna of California, a progressive who has been an influential liaison to the Biden White House.
"I think we need a leader who is committed to listening to all of the perspectives, who has a bold vision of what we need to achieve, and who can help move the Senate or things that have been stalling in the House."
He hoped that whoever it was, they would adopt progressive positions and listen to the broad caucus.
The Post interviewed over two dozen lawmakers, with members expressing deep respect for Pelosi but also wanting a different leadership style.
Brad Schneider wants to see a leader in the mold of Pelosi.
He told the Post that he wanted to make sure that it was someone who could pull the party together.
"Pelosi says that our diversity is our strength and unity is our power," he said. I want to make sure that person can hold that unity.
The chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus suggested that a more centralized nucleus of power might be more effective.
She told The Post that the model of holding power that worked well for a long time is no longer the case.
According to members interviewed by The Post, Pelosi's replacement should be as significant as her being the chamber's first female speaker.
Jeffries would be the first black person to lead a chamber of Congress.
One lawmaker who backs Jeffries' ascension spoke of his style in glowing terms, as the members who were interviewed by The Post overwhelmingly viewed Jeffries as a skilled communicator.
He's brilliant, smooth, but he's fearless. If we are fighting for something, I want Hakeem Jeffries on my side because he will go to the mat on an issue.
According to The Post, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and the second-ranking Democrat are both eyeing a run to succeed Pelosi.
According to the report, Reps. Clark of Massachusetts and Aguilar of California are part of the next group of House leaders.
The realization that huge changes could result in the loss of stability that has come to define the Democratic caucus under Pelosi, Hoyer, and Clyburn, as opposed to the House Republican Caucus, has been raised by members.
A Democratic member told The Post that she understands how to get things done and how to keep the group together.
When asked if she would give up the speaker's gavel after the 116th Congress, Pelosi pointed to her previous commitment.
She said she would abide by the limits that are there if it passes.
