Democrats elect Katherine Clark as assistant House speaker
"Anytime you have people in leadership in the federal government, that's good for Massachusetts."
In the span of a little more than a dozen years, Rep. Katherine Clark has gone from the Melrose School Committee to the fourth-highest ranking Democrat in Congress.
During a caucus vote Wednesday, the Massachusetts congresswoman was elected by her Democratic peers to be assistant House speaker — making her the second woman after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to rise to one of the chamber’s top four leadership positions.
Clark had been up against Rhode Island Rep. David Cicilline, who congratulated her after the 135 to 92 vote Wednesday (a third candidate, California Rep. Tony Cardenas, withdrew from the race last week to run for a different position). In a statement, Clark said her work as assistant speaker would be “guided by everyday Americans who have stood up this year to protect and strengthen our nation,” from the COVID-19 pandemic to the recent election of President-elect Joe Biden.
“The challenges facing our country are great, but so are the possibilities,” she said, adding that Democrats were committed to passing additional legislation to combat COVID-19 and recharge the economy.
“While vitally important, our work cannot end there,” Clark said. “This is the moment for America to unite together and finally build a nation that fulfills our promise of justice for all. We cannot settle for normal, but must instead expand the parameters of prosperity to ensure everyone has the same opportunities for success.
Clark has served as vice chair of the Democratic Caucus, the party’s sixth-highest-ranking leadership position, since 2018 and cited her “individualized approach” at that post to bringing the diverse group’s “perspectives and priorities to the leadership table,” as well as her work to recruit swing-seat candidates in the run-up to the 2018 election.
“She’s got a different hat on, but she’s going to be in the leadership room raising the kinds of issues that are critical to the American people,” Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, who was re-elected as House majority leader Wednesday, said during an afternoon press conference.
Clark has specifically highlighted the need to provide relief for child care centers since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are going to be the unified engine for change,” Clark said during the press conference Wednesday. “We are going to see and help the American people with the pain they’re suffering, through the loss of life and livelihood from this pandemic, and the racial and economic injustices that they are facing.”
Before winning a special election to replace Sen. Ed Markey in Congress, the 57-year-old moved up through the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate from 2008 to 2013. The Hill reported last year that some House colleagues began referring to Clark as “the silent assassin” for her under-the-radar approach.
The election Wednesday puts her next in line behind Pelosi, Hoyer, and South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, the House majority whip — all three of whom are 80 or older. During the press conference, Clark specifically thanked Pelosi for her “mentorship.
Clark was also congratulated by fellow Massachusetts elected officials, ranging from Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley to Republican Gov. Charlie Baker.
“I think anytime you have people in leadership in the federal government, that’s good for Massachusetts,” Baker told reporters Wednesday afternoon. “Congratulations to the Congresswoman.”
Get Boston.com's browser alerts:
Enable breaking news notifications straight to your internet browser.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com