US congressman Tim Ryan challenging Pelosi for House Democratic leader

U.S. Representative Tim Ryan said on Thursday he was challenging House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi for the post of the chamber's top Democrat in an election set for Nov. 30.

Ryan, 43, who is from Ohio, said Democrats had only been in the House of Representatives majority for four of the past 18 years, "and last week's election results set us back even further."

"Vote for me and I will dedicate all of my energy to lead us back into the majority," he said in a statement.

(Reporting by Susan Cornwell; Editing by Peter Cooney)