aren't we proud of ben ray lujan? [applause] speaker pelosi: i want to acknowledge my grandsons.s they wave to their other cousins, in california, who are still campaigning up to the last minute in california, because it's all about the children. before i think all of you more fully, i want to thank my colleagues and acknowledge their leadership and their presence here. [applause] our distinguished whip from maryland, steny hoyer. the assistant leader of south carolina. assume they're all distinguished. bobby scott of virginia. california. g.k. butterfield of north carolina. barbara lee of california. henry clayor of texas. karen bass of california. don beyer of virginia. and brendan boyle of pennsylvania. we all join in thanking all of you. many of you are v.i.p.'s, our volunteers in politics. women and men have mobilized in stark numbers, who saw with his gop congress was doing and refused to stand still. i recall you made, every text you sent them every conversation you had made the difference between winning and losing in this election. thanks to you, we owned the ground. tha

ben ray lujan.talking about how pennsylvania went from zero women to four newly elected women. how did you turn the house blue? rep. lujan: there was an effort across the country. people stepping forward. incredible candidates across america. we identify the largest battlefield in a decade that yielded 111 districts with candidates and everyone. it came down to grassroots and candidates. candidates founder stories and grassroot organizers knocking on doors in turning the vote out. kevin: it all turns to who is going to leave the party. nancy pelosi, the current minority leader. it seems like she has the support. there is a melting faction that would like to see someone else. why is there this opposition? rep. lujan: i have every confidence in the world at nancy pelosi will be the speaker. kevin: you think she has the votes? she has 218? rep. lujan: i believe she will be the speaker of the house. there is no one that works smarter around-the-clock. a lot of people said it was -- said we could not win

ben ray lujan is going to be the assistant majority leader. we will see other races related to the d triple c -- more vibrant faces. host: the votes for nancy pelosi -- you think that indicates further problems, come january, and cohesiveness? guest: i think she will be the next speaker and will have support. the democrats will come together to lead this country, working together and working across party lines, to solve the problems our country faces. host: tomwe will take those cals throughout the course of this program today. , a formers representative from south carolina. guest: good to be with you. host: a little about your organization? republickeye in.org. we're talking about free undersized -- free enterprise solutions to climate change. we hear a lot about government regulation. we have not heard the have the free enterprise system can solve it. host: when it comes to your personal believes, what are they and how did they evolve? guest: for six years i said climate change was nonsense. i did not know anything about it except al gore wa

ben ray lujan is going to be the assistant majority leader. we will see other races related to the d triple c -- more vibrant faces. host: the votes for nancy pelosi -- you think that indicates further problems, come january, and cohesiveness? guest: i think she will be the next speaker and will have support. the democrats will come together to lead this country, working together and working across party lines, to solve the problems our country faces. host: tom

lujan --oud of ben ray aren't we proud of ben ray lujan?applause] speaker pelosi: i want to acknowledge my grandsons. as they wave to their other cousins, in california, who still campaigning up to the last minute in california, because it's all about the children. before i think all of you more fully, i want to thank my colleagues and acknowledge their leadership and the presence here -- their presence here. our distinguished went from whiland, denny lawyer -- --rom maryland, denny lawyer hoyer. , bobby scott of virginia. [applause] -- of california. g.k. butterfield of north carolina. barbara lee of california. henry clay or a texas. karen bass of california. don buyer of virginia. and brendan boyle of pennsylvania. we all join in thanking all of the. vips, ouru are volunteers and politics -- in politics. women and men have mobilized in stark numbers, realized what this congress was doing it, and refused to stand still. every text, every phone call you made made the difference. thanks to you, we owned the ground, thanks to you. [applause]

. >> you would look at him, hakeem jeffries from new york city, ben ray lujan, the chairman of the congressional campaign committee. he announced he was going to run for assistant leader, but at the end of the day, nancy pelosi is a pretty good vote counter, and she is liberal, represents san francisco, she commanded about 85% of the vote in her re-election bid, there but keep in mind, a lot of the seats they flipped, kennedy, and the reason that would block her is not because there are members that are too liberal, trying to force her to the left, it's that you have more moderate democrat coming to the house of representatives and they don't like nancy pelosi or have been on record as saying we can't support her and by the same token how this plays in the jeff sessions and robert mueller, they represent districts where president trump is popular. they might have to temper what their checks and balances are as they go after the administration. kennedy: and she mistakes her own identity politics with populism which is very different, and that's what you're talk about with the democrat moderates,

. >> congressman ben ray lujan.e you back on soon, appreciate it. >> what about people who may be on the next ballot? we're talking about 2020 because whether you like it or not, it has begun today. i'm sorry. okay? that's after the break. - meet the ninja foodi, the pressure cooker that crisps, with the best of pressure cooking and air frying all in one. with our tendercrisp technology, you can quickly cook food, juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. go from fresh to deliciously done in half the time. which means it may become the only thing you use in your kitchen. (tapping) for cooking, at least. (upbeat music) the ninja foodi, with tendercrisp, the cooking while parenting technology. ♪ that's gillette clear gel. it goes on clear and keeps you fresh all day. and it doesn't leave white marks on your shirt. gillette clear gel antiperspirant. to learn about their medicare options before they're on medicare. come on in. you're turning 65 soon? yep. and you're retiring at 67? that's the plan! it's also a grea

ben ray lujan is going to be the assistant majority leader.will see other races related to the d triple c -- more vibrant faces. host: the votes for nancy pelosi -- you think that indicates further problems, come january, and cohesiveness? guest: i think she will be the next speaker and will have support. the democrats will come together to lead this country, working together and working across party lines, to solve the problems our country faces. suozzi, democrat from long island, part of the climate solutions caucus. thank you for your time. back to your phone calls. we will hear from doug, nevada. thanks for waiting. people think man is causing climate change. they have to understand that since 1970, the population of the earth has doubled. there lies your problem. the population just keeps growing, unbelievable. i think in 2050, there will be 10 billion. i think that is the problem. you have to reduce the amount of people on the earth. georgia, hello. climatei believe in change, but i believe it is more natural than it is manhattan manmade

congressman ben ray lujan of new mexico elected assistant democratic leader unanimous consent and also hiking jeffrey over barbara lee of california. we expect this photo opportunity to get started here in just a couple of moments. more about house leadership from this mornings "washington journal." >> back with us at her table to talk about democratic party leadership elections happening this week. you were one of 16 democrats who signed a letter of nonsupport for nancy pelosi. how did you vote on wednesday? >> i voted for leader pelosi to become speaker. i was one of 203. i broke with leader last june based on an issue as it relates to health care and protection for pre-existing conditions to an age demographic that gets clobbered by private health insurance. we talked about over three days. we agreed to move forward and we agreed to work in principle to get something done on on the ie in the 116th congress. >> you spoke with a lead over three days time? >> i i did. just like a thanksgiving, 72 hours, we just just reviewed what it occurred back in june with my experience with her and

choose out fund raising by more than five times the next highest, which is representative ben ray lujanxico. there is bad. she also knows how to get the vote. i myself am a very frequent, but she does get the job done. we've got to somehow balance the two, dallas is freshman who promised to get fresh new blood is still fun race and turn up the votes. neil: she can take credit and she is taking about because of that. democrats are back in the majority. do you think that will flip it for them? i know it's a byzantine process how the house and senate chooses their leaders. they can hide behind what the caucus voted for, et cetera. how do you think it's going to go down? >> it's hard to say. this stage in the game we are so kind of a new territory here. i am very encouraged to hear about the talks of bipartisanship. i think that sincere. i think nancy pelosi knows we have to get some of that done. neil: we always hear that. >> some of that could be just wordplay. train to let me ask you, the president expressed hope for middle-class tax cut. we heard from some democrats they want to just st

and ben ray lujan would be the step-up and be the assistant democratic leader if all goes as anticipated. again running unopposed. back to calls in st. louis next. elaine, hello. caller: hello. thank you for accepting my call. enjoy your program. i, too, am for nancy pelosi. i think as the previous caller stated she was able to navigate the affordable health care act, which has impacted my life personally tremendously. and i'm ever grateful for her for that. seniority e that does have merit. i believe that she's -- she knows the ins and outs. she can help everyone. incoming legislators, and those who have been there for quite some time. i think she does an excellent job when she holds press conferences. one of the callers said she has something going on with her eyes. i don't know what program he's been looking at. i think she would be a dynamic leader. host: i want to show you an observation by "new york times" correspondent emwill i crock ran from jackie speier. the observation from jackie speier. leaving the vote, she suggested that agism, sexism could be among the factors surrounding

. -- when it comes to the assistant democratic leadership position, ben ray lujan from new .exico runningnchallenged when it comes to the head of the democratic caucus chair, a race and hakeembara lee jeffries, democrat from new york to search the eighth district -- who serves the eighth district. in florida, evelyn, hello. caller: good morning. host: hi. caller: good morning. host: you are on, go ahead. caller: all right. good morning, i am a strong supporter of nancy pelosi and i think she should stay where she is. host: why is that? caller: before, i don't think she was given her just do. uue. i just think she is a strong leader. -- saysom social media, maxine waters or davis were options as well. jack dean says we need new leadership for a better and different direction and ultimately for progress. kelly brian adding alexandria cortez is basically a new model of nancy pelosi. if you go to our facebook page, not only can you leave comments, but you can participate in a poll. it is not scientific by any means, but you can give your thoughts on our social media site and call us on the ph

joining to gauge his party's chances is congressional campaign committee chair ben ray lujan of new mexiconswer this question today, is the blue wave coming? >> thanks for having me first off. i'm confident that democrats will win back the majority in the u.s. house of representatives. we built a strategy that looks at the largest battlefield we've seen in a decade built around our candidates. many that have records of service, served in our military, now veterans. former c.i.a. officers, f.b.i. agents. but they are connecting with their personal stories across america and as long as this early vote surge continues to occur, the long lines that we're seeing across america, voting increase in african-american communities by over 136% within the latino community by 180%, the asian-american community 300% and millennials over 250% i'm confident our candidates will do well today. >> sandra: how about the senate? >> there is a narrow path. i agree with chris van hollen that people across the country are energized. all our candidates across america are having a conversation with the american peo