July 31, 2012 10:15 PM UTC

Upwardly Mobile Polis Considers Democratic Caucus Vice-Chairmanship

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• by: Colorado Pols

Politico:

Colorado Rep. Jared Polis is all but certain to make a run for House Democratic leadership, according to sources with knowledge of his plans.

Polis, a progressive Democrat who represents Boulder, Colo., is eyeing a run for vice-chair of the House Democratic Caucus. Polis’s decision to run for the open slot is expected to put him in a race with New York Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley, in what would be the first contested leadership bout of the 113th Congress. Crowley has not made a formal announcement on whether he will run for a leadership slot…

The theory for Polis’s candidacy, according to sources close to him, is that he is cozy with both moderate New Democrats and progressives. He’s openly gay, personally wealthy and liked by a broad swath of the Democratic caucus. He has inroads with progressives across the country, in addition to the business community in New York and the West Coast. He is also a close ally of Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), for whom he is hosting a fundraiser later this month.

The present chairman, Rep. John Larson of Connecticut, is term limited from holding the position again. Winning the Democratic caucus vice-chairmanship would be a step into the upper circles of House leadership for Polis, already notable for his rapid rise for a representative in only his second term. Polis has also served on the Judiciary and Rules committees as well as the 2009 majority steering committee, and is currently the co-chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC) “Red-to-Blue Program.”