Nancy Pelosi says she’s running for another term: NPR
Picture Eric Lee / Pool / Getty
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., confirmed in a video posted Tuesday that she is running for re-election for her San Francisco-based district, but she did not address whether Does she plan to seek another term as top leader of the House Democrats?
Pelosi, 81, made history when she became the first female speaker of the House of Representatives in 2007.
She spearheaded the effort to enact the Affordable Care Act in 2009 and 2010, the signature legislative achievement of then-President Barack Obama, and her longest legacy as an actress. fake. The backlash to the new health care law helped fuel a massive midterm loss in 2010, with Republicans taking control of the House. But Pelosi touted the law’s growing popularity in mid-2018 and vowed to defend the law from the GOP declaring it “repealed and replaced” it.
As Democrats regain majority in 2019, Pelosi pledges that she will limit yourself to two additional terms as a speaker. She became the second person to serve as a speaker twice in 60 years. Her pitch at the time was that she would act as a “bridge to the future.” She recommends rules for placing younger members in leadership positions on committees and on her leadership team.
Pelosi is re-elected for her fourth term as speaker in 2020, although her party had larger-than-expected losses in that year’s election.
Even some Democrats, who thought the party needed to find new leadership in the House a few years ago, now hail Pelosi as a seasoned lawmaker and political tactician. experimental and pragmatic. She has received critical acclaim because her interactions with former President Donald Trump have often gone viral, and President Biden credits her for leading his agenda through an office. Rooms are strictly divided.
While there is some discussion about who could succeed her if she decides not to serve another term in the House or run for her top leadership position, no one has publicly challenged her. wake her up. In recent cycles, Pelosi has suspended the publication of her personal political plans until shortly after the election results are clear in November and the Democratic caucus begins to hold. new meeting of the National Assembly.
While we’ve made a lot of progress, more needs to be done to improve people’s lives. This election is important: nothing less than our Democracy is at stake.
But we don’t make trouble – we organize. I am running for re-election to Congress for the sake of the People and defending Democracy. -NP pic.twitter.com/ojwFPOdRs3
– Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) January 25, 2022
The House Democrats’ caucus never formalized rules to limit leadership tenure to Pelosi or other senior leaders or committee chairmen – some, like Pelosi, have age 80. For her part, the speaker frequently dismissed questions about her political future, insisting that she was focused on an unfinished legislative agenda.
Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill told NPR, echoing a familiar chorus about her approach to work.
Most political analysts, and many Democrats on Capitol Hill, acknowledge the party’s prospects for keeping their slim House majority in 2023 are low.
Historically, the ruling party’s loss of seats in the midterm elections and Biden’s low approval ratings as well as the fallout from regional redistricting efforts around the country also add to the political climate. tough for the Democratic incumbents and those who challenge this cycle.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has predicted his party will win more than the five net seats the GOP needs to flip control of the House of Representatives. He often refers to Pelosi as a “lame duck talker”.
In Tuesday’s announcement, Pelosi explained the reason behind her career-boosting cause – working on issues that affect children. “As you hear me say, when you’re in the arena, you have to be able to take a punch or throw a punch, for the sake of the kids.”
Pelosi accepted the hammer that broke what she called a “marble ceiling” in 2007 surrounded by young children in the House chamber.
The California Democrat cited legislation passed to combat the coronavirus and build infrastructure, but she added, “While we’ve made progress, more needs to be done to improve our lives.” people’s lives.” The speaker addressed the “attacks on truth” and the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and added, “This election is very important. There is nothing less than the future. future of our democracy.”