Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., on Sunday stopped short of offering an endorsement of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for speaker should Democrats take back the majority in the lower chamber with the 2018 midterm elections.

“If we win the House back, Nancy will have a very strong case for holding on to the speakership,” Crowley said during an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation." “If not, there may be other issues that come to the fore at that point. But it's up to the next Congress, Democratic Caucus to decide that fate.”

Crowley, a 10-term congressman, was touted as future Democratic leadership material in the House before he was defeated in June by self-described "democratic socialist" Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 28, in their primary election to represent New York's 14th Congressional District.

Crowley on Sunday took responsibility for the surprise loss, praising his "wonderful volunteers" for "a great campaign effort.“

"I have to take the responsibility for that," he said. "I did not do as I preach. You know, I talk about all politics being local. I didn't remind folks of my accomplishments.”

Pelosi's position could be under threat as Democratic congressional candidates facing tough election bids distance themselves from her in the wake of Republican attack ads seeking to undermine her credibility.