Democratic insurgents hoping to topple House Minority Leader 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.) lack a key ingredient in their master plan: a formidable challenger.

Pelosi’s detractors have argued for years that Democrats need an image overhaul by empowering newer members at the very top of the party. But they suffered a big setback when Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.), thought by many to be Pelosi’s heir apparent, was unseated himself in an astonishing primary defeat earlier this year.

Crowley's downfall has left Pelosi critics scrambling in search of another challenger bearing the requisite combination of experience, gravitas, popularity — and not least, interest — to take on Pelosi, a political juggernaut who's led the party for the past 15 years.

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As the midterms inch closer, many Democrats on and off of Capitol Hill say there’s simply no standout figure to fill the vacuum.

“You can’t beat somebody with nobody,” said a former senior Democratic aide, who worked for a frequent Pelosi critic. “And they have nobody right now.”

Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who heads the Congressional Progressive Caucus, echoed that message, expressing some frustration that none of Pelosi’s critics have stepped forward to launch a challenge.

“There’s no real obvious pretender to the throne right now. You hear supposition and rumor that so-and-so is interested, and that Pelosi is the one under scrutiny by everybody,” he said. “It would be good to get a name that people can also begin to provide that same kind of scrutiny.

“I would want to know.”

To be sure, the opposition to the 78-year-old Pelosi within the caucus has been growing over the years, as old bulls have retired and newer members have entered the ranks, often to become frustrated with the leadership bottleneck at the very top of the party.

Heading into November, Pelosi’s critics see an opportunity to build on the growing unrest. They’re calling for “generational change” to refresh the caucus leadership with new faces and ideas. And they’ve been encouraged by the dozens of Democratic candidates across the country who are vowing to oppose Pelosi as leader if voters send them to Washington.

“The fact that our top three leaders are in their late 70s — I don’t care who those leaders are — that is in fact a problem,” Rep. Jim Himes James (Jim) Andres HimesMany Democrats want John Bolton's testimony, but Pelosi stays mum SEC's Clayton demurs on firing of Manhattan US attorney he would replace Democrats face tough questions with Bolton MORE (D-Conn.) told CNN last month.

Complicating the efforts of Pelosi’s critics, Democrats are within striking distance of taking back the House in November’s midterms. And Pelosi has been a key factor in that push, touring constantly around the country in support of Democratic candidates while raising more than $90 million in the process — by far the largest haul of anyone in the party. Such a victory would demolish a years-old attack line against Pelosi: Namely, that the party simply can’t win with her at the helm.

“It’s going to be pretty difficult to say, ‘We win the House back, … and she just traveled all around the country and got us reelected,’ and — what?” said Rep. John Larson John Barry LarsonAARP endorses Democrats' measure to overturn Trump payroll tax deferral GAO clears way for Democrats to try to overturn Trump's payroll tax deferral Trump payroll-tax deferral for federal workers sparks backlash MORE (Conn.), the former chairman of the Democratic Caucus.

“It’s a very tough case to make.”

Said the former Democratic aide: “If the only knock on Nancy Pelosi is that she’s too old and we need new leadership and she’s been around too long … they need to get another narrative.”

“My experience is that winning cures all,” the aide said.

Perhaps recognizing the difficulties in ousting Pelosi, a group of her critics this week launched an effort that eases the process for doing so. Headed by Reps. Ed Perlmutter Edwin (Ed) George PerlmutterCongress needs to finalize space weather bill as solar storms pose heightened threat OVERNIGHT ENERGY: 20 states sue over Trump rule limiting states from blocking pipeline projects | House Democrats add 'forever chemicals' provisions to defense bill after spiking big amendment | Lawmakers seek extension for tribes to spend stimulus money House Democrats add some 'forever chemicals' provisions to defense bill after spiking major amendment MORE (D-Colo.) and Kathleen Rice Kathleen Maura RiceHillicon Valley: Simulated cyberattack success | New bill for election security funding | Amazon could be liable for defective products Lawmakers introduce bill to help election officials address cyber vulnerabilities House lawmakers to launch probe into DHS excluding NY from Trusted Traveler Program MORE (D-N.Y.), the 11-member coalition has proposed to change caucus rules to create a new threshold of 218 votes to nominate a Speaker candidate in the private Democratic ballot that precedes the public floor vote — a sharp jump over the current requirement of a simple majority.

Their petition will prompt “a discussion and debate” on the rule change in the caucus meeting next week, though it remains to be seen if it will get a vote, according to a senior Democratic aide.

Even if the amended rule receives a vote, it’s widely expected to fail, according to numerous aides. A second senior Democratic aide suggested the effort reveals the desperation of those hoping to topple Pelosi without a prominent challenger.

“It’s the clearest demonstration of the weakness of their position,” said the second aide.

The offices of Perlmutter, Rice and several other signers of the letter either did not respond or declined to comment on Thursday.

The search for a challenger has been further complicated by the ambitions of some of the younger up-and-coming members, who appear to be positioning themselves to run for higher offices outside the House.

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), who challenged Pelosi unsuccessfully in 2016, has left open the idea of trying again, but he’s also not ruling out a shot at the White House in 2020. Rep. Seth Moulton Seth MoultonThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Markey defeats Kennedy; Trump lauds America's enforcers in Wisconsin Moulton fends off primary challenges in Massachusetts Portland: The Pentagon should step up or pipe down MORE (D-Mass.), another frequent Pelosi critic, has been circling the country ceaselessly to help House candidates, fueling speculation that he, too, is eyeing a presidential run. Rep. Eric Swalwell Eric Michael SwalwellSwalwell calls for creation of presidential crimes commission to investigate Trump when he leaves office 'This already exists': Democrats seize on potential Trump executive order on preexisting conditions Swalwell: Barr has taken Michael Cohen's job as Trump's fixer MORE (D-Calif.), a Pelosi supporter who’s seen as another rising star in the party, said last month that he’s “going to consider” a White House bid after the midterms. And Rep. Joe Kennedy Joseph (Joe) Patrick KennedyDemocrats see fundraising spike following Ginsburg death Massachusetts town clerk resigns after delays to primary vote count Bogeymen of the far left deserve a place in any Biden administration MORE III (D-Mass.), a scion of the political dynasty, has said he’s interested in eventually pursuing a Senate seat — a spot that could open as early as 2020, if Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenDimon: Wealth tax 'almost impossible to do' CNN's Don Lemon: 'Blow up the entire system' remark taken out of context Democrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court MORE (D-Mass.) launches her own campaign for the presidency.

“Even with all the general discord: who’s challenging someone? … Who’s her opponent?” asked Larson.

Another Democratic lawmaker, who requested anonymity to speak frankly on the sensitive topic, said the list of names being discussed constitutes “an absurd roster” because it leans too heavily toward newer members.

“None of these people have legislative chops. None of them,” the lawmaker said. “I think the media is barking up the wrong tree.”

Yet there doesn’t seem to be much appetite among the more veteran Democrats to launch themselves into the leadership fray.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), in his seventh term, said he arrived in Washington “during the glory days,” when an “all-star cast” — including Pelosi and her two lieutenants, Reps. Steny Hoyer Steny Hamilton HoyerOVERNIGHT ENERGY: California seeks to sell only electric cars by 2035 | EPA threatens to close New York City office after Trump threats to 'anarchist' cities | House energy package sparks criticism from left and right House energy package sparks criticism from left and right Hoyer: House should vote on COVID-19 aid — with or without a bipartisan deal MORE (D-Md.) and James Clyburn (D-S.C.)— were running the show and “none of us were even remotely thinking about trying to surpass those icons.” Cleaver, who’s the ranking member of a subcommittee on housing policy, said those of his era have been largely content to make their mark on the committee level.

“My classmates, many of us have reached a point where our leadership is as significant nationally as anything here on the Hill,” he said. “Those are the people out there in the trenches everyday, and who obviously love to be in the trench because they’re not trying to get out.”

Pelosi is hoping to quell any uprising by vowing to use a majority next year to spread power around the caucus, not least by returning to a system of “regular order” that places legislative decisions in the hands of the committees.

“She’s lining up her ducks to empower her chair members,” said the former Democratic aide. “She’ll weaken herself to strengthen herself.”

Some Democrats, meanwhile, are airing another reason to keep Pelosi in place: The party needs her experience, these voices say, to take on 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.

“I’ve been in a lot of alley fights here, … and every time, on the big ones — whether it’s health care, immigration, some of the environmental things — Nancy’s been there. And she brings a knife to the fight,” said Grijalva.

“I’m gonna vote for Pelosi. The alley fighter.”