Democrat Diana DeGette, Denver’s representative in the U.S. House of Representatives, has dropped out of the race to be named Whip, under pressure from party leaders, in an effort to prevent a bruising fight for the spot between Democratic party contenders. DeGette will hold onto her leadership position as Chief Deputy Whip. The Whip’s office is the third highest ranking leadership position in the Democrat party, which will be the majority party in the next session of Congress, after Speaker of the House and Majority Leader.
The job of the whip’s office is to convince Democratic members of Congress vote the party line. The leadership, collectively, also helps set the Democratic party agenda in the House, and the higher in leadership one is, the more influence one has in those deliberations.
