In one of the shortest campaigns ever waged for a House leadership position, Rep. John Murtha (D.-Pa.) announced June 9 he would run for majority leader next year if the Democrats won the House. That would have pitted him against current Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D.-Md.), an Iraq War supporter, who would otherwise move up to majority leader if Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.) became speaker. Five days later, under fire from other Democrats, Murtha redeployed his personal ambitions, announcing he wouldn’t run against Hoyer after all.
