ELECTION ‘12//CONGRESS | Republican Thirteenth Congressional District candidate Marilyn Singleton must be saying, “Hey, wait a minute!”

Numerous Beltway publications are reporting Rep. Barbara Lee is angling with at least two other House Democrats for the party’s vice chairperson post in the next Congress.

The Oakland congresswoman is not exactly in a tight race this November. Lee topped Singleton and another unknown candidate with 83 percent of the primary vote last June.

However, Lee will have far more arduous campaign to the gain the party’s vice chairmanship, the fifth-highest leadership position among House Democrats. According to The Hill and Roll Call, Reps. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.) are also openly campaigning fellow House members. The vice chair slot is currently held by Southern California Rep. Xavier Bacerra.

The early politicking and an announcement this week by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi she will hold leadership election Nov. 29 is raising eyebrows. Such elections are normally held much closer to the last election and the three week gap has some believing Pelosi will step down from atop the House Democrats’ perch.

Politico reported Thursday Pelosi’s rationale, however, is to give other Democrats, possibly complaining ones, a chance to enter their names for consideration for the various leadership posts.

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