Ben Ray Lujan is Pelosi's surprise pick to chair DCCC

WASHINGTON – In a shock to her caucus, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi selected Rep. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for the 2016 cycle.

Lujan will lead his caucus' political arm and all aspects of the campaign to take back the gavel: fundraising, messaging, recruiting and getting out the vote.

The choice is Pelosi's alone, but it was a shock to most Democrats on Capitol Hill.

Lujan is not the first Hispanic to lead the committee. Rep. Tony Coelho of California ran the committee for three terms in the 1980s.

Running the DCCC will be a herculean task after the midterm elections translated into House Democrats' smallest caucus in modern history.

House Democrats will need to win about 30 seats in order to capture the gavel back for the party. Some of the 2014 race outcomes are still pending.

House Republicans are choosing new leaders for several important committees, but the process is taking a little longer than expected.

A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner said the panel will instead vote on Tuesday. Former GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan is aiming to head the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. The post could give the Wisconsin Republican a high-profile platform if he decides to run for president in 2016 or beyond.

Republicans also are choosing a new chairman for the House Oversight Committee. The head of the panel traditionally acts as a chief antagonist for a president from the opposing party.