Gephardt to step down as House Democratic leader

Missouri Rep. Richard Gephardt is expected to officially step down Thursday as House minority leader, after eight years as the head of the Democratic party in the House.

Gephardt, who told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Wednesday of his plans not to seek re-election to the leadership post, is a possible contender for his party's nomination in the 2004 presidential race. He will keep his seat in Congress and would not speculate on a 2004 presidential bid, according to the newspaper.

Gephardt's announcement comes shortly after Republicans picked up four additional House seats, retaining their majority with a total of 228 seats. Republicans will also control the Senate with at least 51 seats in that chamber-the Louisiana Senate race will be decided in a Dec. 7 runoff.

House Minority Whip Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and House Caucus Chair Martin Frost, D-Texas, are the top contenders for minority leader, according to several news reports. Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., will run for minority whip, according to Hoyer spokeswoman Stacey Farnen. Hoyer, an 11-term congressman, has "80 to 85 percent of the [Democratic] caucus behind him and no opponent, so it looks like he will win that position," Farnen said.

Hoyer, who easily defeated Republican Joseph Crawford on Tuesday, is the ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Treasury, Postal Service and General Government. He has pushed for a 4.1 percent pay raise for federal civilian employees in 2003 and has championed telecommuting as a way to improve the quality of life for federal workers.

The Maryland Democrat also voted against the creation of a new Department of Homeland Security, suggesting the Bush administration stick with the government structure already in place.