Speaker in 2017 if Dems pick up 15-20 seats

[Heisenberg]

If Democrats pick up several House seats in the 2016 election, but not enough to take the House, will Ryan be able to win re-election as Speaker? Or will the Freedom Caucus be able/want to deny him re-election?

I hope the Freedom Caucus doesn't bully Ryan out. This destructive group of extreme Representatives just needs to die. Constructive conservatism is the way the House GOP needs to go.

[Heisenberg]

Another interesting question: Who becomes GOP leader if Dems win the House?

Isn't Scalise very, very likely? McCarthy seems not to have the necessary support within the caucus. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is a possible dark-horse, as perhaps are Patrick McHenry/Greg Walden.

I can see McCarthy soon resigning from leadership altogether. Scalise is a possibility, though I don't think the more moderate Republicans would support him. McMorris Rodgers is a better pick, she can appeal to both the Main Street Partnership and Study Committee. McHenry and Walden are also good choices, the latter will be termed out of his post as NRCC Chairman, he may want to jump to another spot.

[Heisenberg]

Steve Israel and Ben Ray Lujan have experience in the party House leadership. Do you think maybe Niki Tsongas would be a good potential Democratic House leader? Joaquin Castro, Kyrsten Sinema, Keith Ellison, and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz are the big names of the Democratic Chief Deputy Whips. John Lewis is the Senior Democratic Chief Deputy Whip, but he's 76. Diana DeGette and Terri Sewell are the only not mentioned female Chief Deputy Whips under seventy. Ron Kind was a chief deputy whip from 2003-2007.

Israel is retiring, and I doubt DWS will get a promotion this soon after her controversies.

[Heisenberg]

Ben Ray Lujan, Joaquin Castro, Kyrsten Sinema, Ron Kind, and maybe Sewell are the most likely to get promotions in my opinion.

If Lujan can help Democrats get a House Majority, he's definitely in line for a promotion. Ideally, I'd like to keep him around for 2018 to help protect as many seats as possible. I can't see most of your list making Leadership. Generally, you have to be in Congress for quite some time to be eligible for a leadership position.

Ron Kind seems likely for a promotion.