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In a perfect world, progressives knock around 60 centrist Democrats out of office in 2022, and Pramila Jayapal becomes Speaker of the House. In the extremely likely scenario where that does not happen, Speaker Katherine Clark is a pretty good alternative, and one that is well within reach.

Congresswoman Clark has swiftly ascended the ranks of Democratic leadership since she was first elected in 2013. Clark is currently Vice-Chair of the Democratic Caucus, but she is eyeing a promotion having already announced her intention to run for Assistant Speaker in the 117th Congress. Clark has earned the admiration of junior Democrats for her attentiveness to their political needs, while also impressing more senior colleagues with her legislative savvy. As other Representatives seek out a spotlight, Clark is more comfortable working behind the cameras, receiving the nickname "the silent assassin" for the unassuming yet potent way she wields power.

You will never hear her badmouth party leadership in public, but she has broken with them on many significant votes to side with progressives. Clark's voting record is impressive, and though not an avid co-sponsor, she signed on to the big-ticket items like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. Not much to complain about legislatively, and unlike her main competitor for Speaker (Hakeem Jeffries), she does not go out of her way to pick fights with left-wing outsiders.

Katherine Clark as speaker would by no means be some sort of skeleton key in unlocking the prefect progressive legislative agenda. However, if she were to get the gavel, the left would have an honest broker at the head of the Democratic Caucus rather than an obstruction to progress.