Rep. Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, talks during a press conference for Latino Media Day at the Capitol as the State Legislature begins its session on Jan. 28, 2013. Photo: Deseret News File
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s House Minority leader, Rep. Brian King, says a vote against Nancy Pelosi for U.S. House Speaker won’t hurt the success of freshman Congressman-elect, Ben McAdams.
“I think Nancy Pelosi is smart,” said King (D-Salt Lake City). “She wants to see Ben McAdams come back in 2020. She wants him to have a great career in Congress.”
King says Pelosi and McAdams know he represents a “purple” fourth district that he won by 694 votes.
King expects McAdams to work across party lines as he did as Salt Lake County mayor but that will be much harder in Washington.
“I think he wants to be someone who is not seen as just fitting into the mold of, ‘Yeah, I’m a Democrat, and I always support the Democrats,’” King said.
Pelosi doesn’t need McAdams’ vote to win. He has said to her that he wants new Congressional leadership.