Rises to 4th Highest Position in House Leadership

Second Woman After Speaker Pelosi to Ascend to Top 4

November 18, 2020, Washington, D.C.—Statement from Congresswoman Katherine Clark on her successful election to the position of Assistant Speaker to the 117th Congress: 

 “Thank you to my colleagues for the incredible honor of serving as Assistant Speaker for the 117th Congress.

 “The challenges facing our country are great, but so are the possibilities. Our Caucus is resolute in our commitment to eliminating the virus, aiding families, and recharging our economy in the face of this pandemic. While vitally important, our work cannot end there. 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.  

 “As Assistant Speaker, my work will be guided by everyday Americans who have stood up this year to protect and strengthen our nation; From the heroic frontline workers who bravely put the security and health of others before their own, to the record number of Americans who took to the streets this summer and took to the polls this November, who energized our democracy and brought a renewed urgency to our fight for racial, climate, and economic justice. 

 “The House Democratic Majority, in partnership with President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris, will meet this moment of historic challenges and confront it with historic progress. 


“With faith in our country and optimism for our future, I am eager to get to work.”

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Background: 

Congresswoman Clark was first elected to Congress in 2013 in a Special Election. She was Co-Chair of Recruitment and the Red to Blue Program for the DCCC during the 2018 cycle. She served as Vice-Chair of the House Democratic Caucus from 2019-2020. Her ascent to Assistant Speaker makes her the second-highest-ranking woman in leadership and the second woman following Speaker Pelosi to be in the top four leadership positions within the U.S. House of Representatives.