Emanuel Cleaver

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is charting a new, more detached course for working her will on the Democratic caucus she once ruled with an iron fist, numerous lawmakers familiar with the matter tell Axios.Why it matters: Pelosi's colleagues described a laissez faire approach to backing candidates in committee leadership elections that gives House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) space to settle into his role.During her reign, Pelosi "would actively have her hands on these races" and would "prevent them from even happening" in some cases, said one veteran House Democrat."That's not what happened here. I think it is a different model," the lawmaker added."If folks are looking for this narrative that Nancy Pelosi was behind the curtain orchestrating [things], I don't think that happened," said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.). Driving the news: Pelosi encouraged several committee ranking member candidates to jump into their races – but her choices racked up a mixed record on Tuesday when House Democrats met to vote on contested roles.Huffman was elected ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee – though his one rival, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), dropped out before the vote.Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) defeated Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to become Oversight Committee ranking member with Pelosi's endorsement.Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.), another Pelosi-backed Californian, lost to Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) in the race to lead the Agriculture Committee.Zoom in: Pelosi was physically absent from the elections due to a hip replacement surgery she received in Germany over the weekend after a fall during a congressional trip.Still, former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Pelosi's longtime deputy, said in a speech supporting Costa that he spoke for the former speaker as well, multiple lawmakers in the room told Axios.What they're saying: Huffman told Axios after the elections that he and others have gone to Pelosi "for her counsel," but that her role as a booster largely ended with her encouraging candidates to run.Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), who spoke on behalf of Connolly, said of Pelosi's support for the Virginian: "I don't think it was a factor.""I mean, it's a good factor when anybody plays a role. But, look, you heard Steny in another race say that the speaker emerita was [supporting Costa], and that was a different result," he added.An Ocasio-Cortez ally told Axios they "haven't heard people talking so much" about Pelosi's role and that the frustration in AOC's camp is focused on certain other top House Democrats who backed Connolly.Between the lines: Pelosi did some campaigning for her candidates, as Axios has reported. But numerous House Democrats said Tuesday that activity appeared to be fairly limited and fell short of a true whip operation."As one of her strong supporters, she never said anything to me," said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), positing that there were "some overstatements about ... this theory [that] she had to have her hands in some of this."Said a senior House Democrat: "I did not have a conversation with the former speaker at all, and ... if she was a part of it, I wasn't aware of it."Another senior House Democrat told Axios they "didn't hear about any calls," and, noting Pelosi's hip replacement surgery, said that "of course she was not in much of a position to make calls the last week."Yes, but: Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), a vocal Connolly ally, argued Pelosi's backing of Connolly still "definitely helped" him consolidate support."And [Hoyer] too," he said. "Two very respected people who have been in leadership for 20-plus years."

Rep. Gerry Connolly, who is battling esophageal cancer, will be the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee

Data: Axios reporting; Note: Axios contacted every Democrat serving in the 119th Congress. The chart includes those who responded; Chart: Jacque Schrag/Axios Visuals.More than a dozen congressional Democrats plan to sit out President-elect Trump's inauguration, and many more are anxiously grappling with whether to attend, Axios has learned.Why it matters: Not every Democrat skipping the ceremony will do so to protest Trump — but a formal boycott is materializing as a first act of resistance against the incoming president.For many Democrats, the scars of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol remain fresh in the mind, marking Trump as a threat to democracy."For somebody who he said he's going to lock me up, I don't see the excitement in going to see his inauguration," former Jan. 6 committee chair Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) told Axios.State of play: Martin Luther King Jr. Day coinciding with the Jan. 20 inaugural ceremony gives many Democrats an easy out, though others planning to stay away cited a distaste for inaugurations, a loathing of Trump — and even fears for their safety.Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) said that as a Latina, she doesn't "feel safe coming" with Trump's supporters pouring in for the ceremony. "I'm not going to physically be in D.C. on that day," she told Axios.Similarly, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) said that attending MLK Day events instead "makes sense, because why risk any chaos that might be up here?"For other members, the reasoning is more mundane: Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) "almost never attends inaugurations" and has only been to two during his 28 years in office, his spokesperson told Axios.What we're hearing: Incoming Progressive Caucus chair Greg Casar (D-Texas), who hasn't decided whether to attend, told Axios, "I think you'll have some number of Democrats who go and a substantial number who don't.""There are civil rights organizations that are trying to set up alternatives," said Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), adding that Trump's inauguration "seems like the worst place to spend Martin Luther King Day."Several progressives predicted that the boycott won't be confined solely to the party's left flank.Data: Axios reporting; Note: Axios contacted every Democrat serving in the 119th Congress. The chart includes those who responded; Chart: Jacque Schrag/Axios Visuals.Zoom in: Dozens of Democrats boycotted Trump's first inauguration in 2017, led by the now-deceased congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis.But the Jan. 6 attack, for which Democrats hold Trump squarely responsible, has added a new layer of disgust for some.Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) told Axios he "cannot be a part of that spectacle" as someone who was "locked in my office ... as the insurrectionists tried to overthrow our government.""I was trapped in the [House] gallery on Jan. 6," Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) said, explaining her intention to skip the ceremonies.Between the lines: Many undecideds are painfully trying to balance their sense of obligation with their detestation for Trump, as USA Today first detailed on Thursday.Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) expressed alignment with his colleagues who cannot bring themselves to go — but said he also believes members of Congress are "supposed to go to all of that stuff.""I'm struggling," the veteran lawmaker conceded.The other side: A sizable number of Democrats are prepared to grit their teeth and show up — if only to try to rebuild public faith in national institutions after the events that followed the 2020 election."I'm planning to attend ... because I believe in the peaceful transition of power and I respect the Office of the President," Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) told Axios.Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) said progressives "are coming down in different ways," but that she feels "it's important that we try to establish norms again" after Jan. 6.The bottom line: For many lawmakers, the question simply isn't a priority at the moment.Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), asked whether he plans to attend, told Axios: "Pssh, is that the burning issue of the day?"Axios' Stephen Neukam and Stef Kight contributed reporting for this story.

Rep. Sam Graves poses inside his office in the Longworth House Office Building on Dec. 4.

Congressional Democratic leadership is holding itself accountable, pledging to address the concerns of voters, after Americans voted the party out of power largely due to economic concerns. “We have to work decisively to address the economic challenges that everyday Americans are facing in this country,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told PBS NewsHour on Thursday. “Far too many people are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. ... And we’re prepared to work with the incoming administration to decisively deal with that issue.”According to The Hill, in a closed-door meeting earlier this week, the New York Democrat fell on his sword as he tried to take the blame for middling Democratic turnout even in blue strongholds like New York and California, which led to their defeats in many swing districts.“He stood up there today and said, ‘It’s all on me,’” said Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver to The Hill. “And the whole caucus started booing [as if to say], ‘This is not on you.’”

House Democrats are strategizing ways to put a damper on the Trump administration's sweeping plans while their party still retains some control in Washington, Axios has learned.Why it matters: Many Democrats fear that full GOP control of Congress – an increasingly likely prospect – will allow Trump to roll back many of the gains they made under the Biden administration.House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is already telling allies how he is preparing to lead the resistance to Trump, Axios' Hans Nichols reported."We as Democrats have to roll up our sleeves and get into defense and protection mode," Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) told Axios.Said outgoing Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.): "A lot of things can be undone, but it can take longer to undo them and it will force a priority from them on what they want to focus on."What we're hearing: The talks mainly involve members of the Progressive, Black, Hispanic, Asian Pacific American and Equality caucuses, according to multiple lawmakers engaged in the discussions.Ramirez said the conversations center on figuring out "what are the things [where] we have any powers to protect the communities that we know will be most harmed as a result of a Donald Trump election."Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) confirmed to Axios "there are conversations that are taking place where people are tying to figure out if there are some steps that can be taken that can reduce the damage."Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.), in a statement, pointed to immigration policy as a key focus, noting Republicans "have promised mass deportations. The president-elect has even admitted that women and children could get caught up in these operations."Zoom in: Jayapal said one plan is to propose a raft of executive orders President Biden could issue to "protect existing structures," such as shielding career civil servants and Justice Department officials.She also said lawmakers are working on getting funds from the Inflation Reduction Act, bipartisan infrastructure law, and CHIPS Act "out the door as quickly as possible."Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), Jayapal's likely successor as CPC chair, said lawmakers want to ensure those funds "start creating jobs before Trump finds some way to just send that money to his friends."Democrats also plan to lean on the Biden administration to fast-track citizenship and residency paperwork for immigrants, Casar said.They are also trying to come up with messaging strategies to bolster Biden's legacy, said Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.): "Trump is going to inherit a good economy ... [we want to] help educate people about that reality."Reality check: Biden's executive orders have often run into trouble in conservative-dominated federal courts, and Democrats are limited in what they can do legislatively during the lame duck session due to GOP control of the House.Some Democrats are also sensitive to the perception that they are adopting the tactics of Republican state legislators who used their supermajorities to kneecap incoming Democratic governors."We're trying to show how the United States is supposed to conduct itself every four years when a new person takes over the reins of government," said Cleaver."I do think that's important. I want the American public to see, if they've forgotten, just how things are supposed to be ... I know that Biden doesn't want to step over the line."What's next: Several lawmakers told Axios that the caucuses spearheading this brainstorming are set meet on the subject this week as the House returns to session."In anticipation of [Trump's] actions, CHC will meet to discuss how best we can protect our communities and hold the incoming administration accountable," said Barragan.Ramirez told Axios: "CHC, CPC and others are going to have a lot of meetings next week to discuss what we end up prioritizing and how much of that can we take to the Dem caucus to ask that they prioritize."

“Maybe with all the devastation that we’re experiencing, my colleagues and I will come to the conclusion that it may be now or never,” Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II said.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) tells NTD’s Kelly Wright that President Joe Biden passing the campaign torch to Vice President Kamala Harris has energized young voters, adding “the American public was screaming for some kind of transition to a younger population of politicians.”

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver shares about his poor child hood, and how his family’s faith in the divine led him out of poverty to later become an elected official.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan appeared at a breakfast event held Minnesota's DNC delegation, rallying up the delegates ahead of Monday's main session.