Rep. Tim Ryan Timothy (Tim) RyanNow's the time to make 'Social Emotional Learning' a national priority Mourners gather outside Supreme Court after passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lincoln Project hits Trump for criticizing Goodyear, 'an American company' MORE (D-Ohio) said that Rep. Joseph Crowley's (D-N.Y.) primary loss last month has prompted many Democrats to rethink the future of their party's leadership and suggested that he could mount another bid to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiHoyer: House should vote on COVID-19 aid — with or without a bipartisan deal Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at Supreme Court McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE (D-Calif.) as the Democratic leader.

“The Crowley race changed a lot for a lot of us,” Ryan told Politico in an interview. “There was a lot of assumption that he was going to be moving forward in leadership, and so losing that election put everybody in a state of mind to reevaluate what was happening.”

Crowley, the No. 4 House Democrat, was soundly defeated in his June primary by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old progressive and first-time candidate for public office.

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His defeat was a blow to the establishment wing of the Democratic Party led in Congress by Pelosi. Crowley was widely seen as a possible successor to Pelosi, who has served as the House's top Democrat for more than a decade.

Crowley's defeat underscored an ongoing question among many Democrats about the direction of their party following Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonDemocratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida The Hill's Campaign Report: Presidential polls tighten weeks out from Election Day More than 50 Latino faith leaders endorse Biden MORE's 2016 loss to President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE.

Many in the party have called for a more progressive tone and have embraced the platform of more left-leaning figures, like Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersOutrage erupts over Breonna Taylor grand jury ruling Dimon: Wealth tax 'almost impossible to do' Grand jury charges no officers in Breonna Taylor death MORE (I-Vt.).

Others, like Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez Thomas Edward PerezClinton’s top five vice presidential picks Government social programs: Triumph of hope over evidence Labor’s 'wasteful spending and mismanagement” at Workers’ Comp MORE, have advocated for a "big tent" approach that seeks to bring in more voters and candidates outside Democratic strongholds.

Ryan is among a handful of Democrats who have called for a new generation of leadership to replace Pelosi. He mounted a long-shot bid for minority leader in 2016, ending up with only about a third of the caucus's votes.

He told Politico on Monday that he has been approached by several colleagues about mounting a new challenge to Pelosi's leadership. But he said he would not do so unless he thought he had a shot of ousting the California Democrat.

“I wouldn’t get in unless I thought I could win,” he said. “I’m not going to do it just to do it.”