B. Patrick Bauer, who has won every election he has been in since 1970, today will face the most decisive ballot of his career as House Democrats vote on whether to keep him as their leader.

Republicans have made Bauer their target for years, viewing him as a caricature of all that they oppose in Democrats. But it is Bauer’s own party that now has him apparently cornered, in the fight of his political life.

House Democrats will meet at a Lafayette union hall this afternoon to vote on whether to depose Bauer. At least 21 of the 40 House Democrats must attend and vote to remove Bauer for the change to occur.

Far from bowing out, Bauer was swinging away at his critics Wednesday, struggling to keep his job.