November 18, 2008 - 15:06
News: Arizona

Grijalva vying to lead Progressive Caucus

The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) will vote Wednesday to determine whether U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Tucson) becomes co-chair of the increasingly-powerful group of lawmakers, according to his office.

Grijalva spokeswoman Natalie Luna confirmed to PolitickerAZ.com that Grijalva is one of three contenders for the two co-chair slots, which will be filled by the vote. The others are Reps. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.). Woolsey is currently a co-chair, along with fellow Californian Barbara Lee, who is leaving to head the Congressional Black Caucus.

The CPC is comprised of 72 members at present, but is expected to grow to 80 for the 111th Congress. The group, for which Grijalva currently serves as one of six vice chairs, has grown in prominence since Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), once a member of the caucus, took over the speaker's gavel in 2006. More than half of the standing committees in the House are chaired by members of the CPC.   

Evan Brown is a PolitickerAZ.com Reporter and can be reached via email at noreply@politicker.com.

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