Becerra named No. 2 in House Dems' caucus

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. House Democrats Tuesday elected Rep. Xavier Becerra of California as caucus vice chairman.

Becerra had been serving as assistant to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Becerra, The Hill reported, won in a 175-67 caucus vote over Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, who sought to appeal to centrist and conservative Democrats concerned about the caucus's liberal-leaning leadership team.

Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., were all re-elected unopposed and by acclamation Tuesday, as well.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen of Maryland will continue to lead the House Democrats' campaign organization.

Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., who had been caucus vice chairman, was affirmed unanimously to fill the caucus chairmanship vacancy created by the departure of Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., who will serve as President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff.