Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat and top party leader, announced she will seek reelection, raising speculation that she may abandon a previous pledge to step aside from leadership in 2022 and instead vie for another term as the top House Democrat.
Pelosi, who turns 82 in March, announced on Twitter her decision to run for another term in the San Francisco-based district she’s represented since winning a June 1987 special election.
“While we have made progress, much more needs to be done to improve people’s lives,” Pelosi, who represents most of San Francisco, said in a video announcement. “This election is crucial. Nothing less is at stake than our democracy.”
Pelosi is among a trio of Democrats who have held the top three House posts for more than a decade. Pelosi was elected Democratic leader in 2002 and House speaker in January 2007, where she held the position until the GOP reclaimed the gavel in 2011.
Pelosi reverted to minority leader, fighting challengers to hang on to the top post.
While we have made progress much more needs to be done to improve people’s lives. This election is crucial: nothing less is at stake than our Democracy.
But we don’t agonize-we organize. I am running for re-election to Congress to deliver For The People and defend Democracy. -NP pic.twitter.com/ojwFPOdRs3
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) January 25, 2022
Democrats selected her once again to the top post when the party regained the majority in the 2018 election — and held on to it, barely, in 2020. She’s the oldest House speaker in history.
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But Pelosi in 2019 promised her caucus that this term would be her last as speaker in a move meant to placate those eager to usher a younger generation of leaders into the top posts.
Pelosi hasn’t confirmed whether she’ll stick to her promise but in the past has suggested she’ll honor the agreement.
Democrats control a very slim House majority, and analysts predict that the House will flip to GOP control in the midterm elections. If Democrats lose the House and Pelosi sticks around, she’ll have to run for Democratic leader and may have a battle on her hands in the wake of a November defeat.
In most of Pelosi’s reelection bids, she has won with more than 70% of the vote.
