In Reversal, Mass. U.S. Rep. Lynch Says He's Leaning Toward Backing Pelosi For Speaker

In a reversal, South Boston U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch says he's now likely to support Nancy Pelosi in her bid to return as House speaker.

Lynch was one of 16 Democrats who signed a letter earlier this month promising to vote against Pelosi in Democrats' internal caucus leadership vote as well as on the House floor in January.

On Wednesday, the caucus nominated Pelosi to serve as the next speaker.

And on Thursday, Lynch told The Hill that he was leaning toward supporting her in January. Lynch, who represents the Massachusetts 8th district, said he spoke with Pelosi Wednesday.

“We had a great conversation and my goal is to get reassurances that we were going to adopt an agenda that would focus more intently on regular working families,” he told The Hill. “And it seems that on a number of those issues, we’re aligned.”

His office would not tell WBUR how he voted in Wednesday's caucus nomination.

Lynch's support would leave U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton as the only member of the Massachusetts congressional delegation to oppose Pelosi.

Moulton, who also signed the Democratic letter, has said new leadership is needed for the caucus.

With reporting by WBUR's Benjamin Swasey