Nancy Pelosi is at it again, playing her signature game of Democratic chess, but this time her target isn’t the White House—it’s Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), the longtime ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee.
Pelosi is reportedly maneuvering behind the scenes to replace Nadler with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), a move that signals her dissatisfaction with the party’s current leadership and its ability to counter the rising tide of Trump’s influence in Congress.
According to a recent New York Times report, Pelosi has been quietly urging Raskin to step up and challenge Nadler. While Raskin hasn’t announced his candidacy, he’s allegedly considering it, despite his close friendship with Nadler.
Pelosi’s reasons for favoring Raskin are clear: he’s younger, more aggressive in debates, and a proven loyalist to the Democratic cause. Raskin has played key roles in advancing narratives against Trump, including pushing discredited claims of Russian disinformation and suggesting he would refuse to certify Trump’s 2024 victory.
Nadler, however, isn’t going down without a fight. As a veteran of the Democratic Party and the Judiciary Committee, he’s touting his leadership during the two impeachment trials against Trump as proof of his qualifications to continue in the role.
But for Pelosi, that record may not be enough. She’s reportedly worried that the Democratic Party’s current leadership lacks the firepower needed to take on Trump’s agenda and his staunch allies like Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH).
This internal power struggle isn’t limited to Nadler. Across the party, older Democratic leaders like Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. David Scott (D-GA) are facing challenges from younger, more ambitious members eager to step into leadership roles.
It’s part of a broader generational shift within the Democratic Party, but Pelosi’s role in orchestrating these shake-ups stands out. She’s determined to avoid another debacle like the one surrounding President Joe Biden’s exit from the 2024 race, where she reportedly felt the brunt of the blame for his ousting.
The stakes for the Judiciary Committee leadership are particularly high. With Trump poised to leverage his influence in Congress, the committee will be a central battleground for investigations, policy battles, and the broader Republican agenda. Pelosi seems to believe that Nadler lacks the sharpness and agility to meet this moment, making her push for Raskin all the more urgent.