Pelosi won't seek leadership role, plans to stay in Congress
By: Lisa Mascaro (Houston Chronicle)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that she will not seek a leadership position in the new Congress, a pivotal realignment making way for a new generation of leaders after Democrats lost control of the House to Republicans in the midterm elections.
Pelosi announced in a spirited speech on the House floor that she will step aside after leading Democrats for nearly 20 years and in the aftermath of the brutal attack on her husband, Paul, last month in their San Francisco home.
The California Democrat, who rose to become the nation's first woman to wield the speaker's gavel, said she would remain in Congress as the representative from San Francisco, a position she has held for 35 years, when the new Congress convenes in January.
"Now we must move boldly into the future," Pelosi said. "The hour has come for a new generation."
It's an unusual choice for a party leader to stay on after withdrawing from congressional leadership but one befitting of Pelosi, who has long defied convention in pursuing power in Washington.
Pelosi noted in a statement after The Associated Press called control of the chamber that, in the next Congress, House Democrats will have "strong leverage over a scant Republican majority."
Democrats cheered Pelosi as she arrived in the chamber at noon. On short notice, lawmakers filled the House, at least on the Democratic side, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer joined. The Speaker's Gallery filled with Pelosi staff and guest. Some Republicans, including some newly-elected members, also attended.
The first women to become speaker, and the only person in decades to be twice elected to the role, she has led Democrats through consequential moments, including passage of the Affordable Care Act with President Barack Obama and the impeachments of President Donald Trump.
By announcing her decision, Pelosi could launch a domino effect in House Democratic leadership ahead of internal party elections next month as Democrats reorganize as the minority party for the new Congress.
Pelosi's leadership team, with Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland and Democratic Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina, has long moved as a triumvirate. Hoyer and Clyburn are also making decisions about their futures.
All now in their 80s, the three House Democratic leaders have faced restless colleagues eager for them to step aside and allow a new generation to take charge.
Democratic Reps. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Pete Aguilar of California have similarly moved as a trio, all working toward becoming the next generation of leaders. Jeffries could make history if he enters the race to become the nation's first Black speaker of the House.
One idea circulating on Capitol Hill was that Pelosi and the others could emerge as emeritus leaders as they pass the baton to new Democrats.
Clyburn, the highest-ranking Black American in Congress, has said he has no interest in being speaker or leader of the minority at this point in his life but expects to stay in Congress next year.
"I do wish to remain at the leadership table," Clyburn said a week after the midterms. "As to what capacity that will be, I will leave that up to our Democratic caucus."
Hoyer has not spoken publicly of his plans.
First elected in 1987, Pelosi has been a pivotal figure in American politics, long ridiculed by Republicans as a San Francisco liberal while steadily rising as a skilled legislator and fundraising powerhouse. Her own Democratic colleagues have intermittently appreciated but also feared her powerful brand of leadership.
Pelosi first became speaker in 2007, saying she had cracked the "marble ceiling," after Democrats swept to power in the 2006 midterm elections in a backlash to then-President George W. Bush and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
When she was poised in 2018 to return as speaker, in the Trump era, she vowed "to show the power of the gavel."
Pelosi has repeatedly withstood leadership challenges over the years and had suggested in 2018 she would serve four more years as leader. But she had not discussed those plans more recently.
Typically unsentimental, Pelosi let show a rare moment of emotion on the eve of the midterm elections as she held back tears discussing the grave assault on her husband of nearly 60 years.
Paul Pelosi suffered a fractured skull after an intruder broke into their home in the middle the night seeking the Democratic leader. The intruder's question — "Where is Nancy?" — echoed the chants of the pro-Trump rioters at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as they hunted for Pelosi and tried to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's election victory over Trump.
David DePape is being held without bail on attempted murder and other charges in what authorities said was a political attack. Police said DePape broke in and woke up Paul Pelosi, and the two struggled over a hammer before DePape struck the 82-year-old on the head. DePape, 42, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of attempting to kidnap a federal official and assaulting a federal official's family member.
Paul Pelosi was hospitalized for a week but is expected to recover, though his wife has said it will be a long haul.
At the time, Speaker Pelosi would not discuss her political plans but would only disclose that the attack on her husband would impact her decision.
Historians have noted that other consequential political figures had careers as rank-and-file members of Congress, including John Quincy Adams, the former president, who went on to serve for nearly 18 years in Congress.
Associated Press staff writers Kevin Freking and Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.
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Now the demented midgets take over for two years.
As Florida man hamstrung his parties midterm hopes, his toadies in House committee leadership positions will do the same in the run up to the 2024 election…as vendetta mode is engaged.
Will she take the hammer with her?
Now John, nobody thinks of the Senate Democrats as demented midgets at all! Just demented...
I don't blame her. I can see the house being a circus for the next two years.
WTF did you call it for the last 7 years?
Uh oh, you may want to revise that statement. In the last seven years republicans have had control of the chamber.
Not the last two...................
So you are talking four out of seven years, about half.
Lol. The new "leader" will be a puppet, or seen as one.
Should be fun to watch.
What will be torture to watch is McCarthy trying to wrangle the factions within the gop.
Yeppers! Now a mere handful of old school Lincoln Project establishment Republicans control all of the goppers in the US House.
Like Joe Manchin used to hold in Senate!
Do you not understand there's no such thing as a "Lincoln project establishment Republican"
That's quite an embarrassing gaffe. It's like saying "Freedom Caucus Democrats"
No, it really is not...
Sure, why don't you point out the "Lincoln project Republicans" in Congress? The Lincoln Project is just a collection of consultants/rapists who who exploited gullible progressives into giving them millions so they could produce a few web ads.
Nany Pelosi is one of, if not the most accomplished women in American history. Certainly, in American politics. Her accomplishments as Speaker have been significant and of tremendous benefit to the American people.
Congratulations Speaker Pelosi, and thank you for a job well done. The American people owe you a debt of deep gratitude.
As for the small-minded yahoos and idiots who may disparage her, their opinions mean absolutely nothing.
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She is the first and only woman Speaker!
I thought the left didn't know what a woman was?
Thank god.
Nancy Pelosi has given enough to her country and to for her legacy. These ignorant (bastards) and disingenuous MAGA-ites have elevated the danger and nearly killed her husband who is an innocent man. She is right to step down for the good of her family. The risks for her are ELEVATED and will remain so for a very long time. Because of a 'red scare' from republicans. Of course, the so-called investigations upcoming will not do a damn thing to tamp down the harm done either.
"...and in the aftermath of the brutal attack on her husband..."
Nobody above room temperature believes that's a reason.
Now the question becomes: If Kevin McCarthy manages to get the job, will he outlast Theodore Medad Pomeroy?
I think she should move to Taiwan - I'm sure the people there love her.
Appoint her as the US Ambassador in Afghanistan.
Naw, the Taliban would just hold her for a ransom that almost nobody would be willing to pay anyway./sarc
They would make more taking monthly payments to keep her.
Maybe some rich crypto guy will…….never mind.
The people of San Francisco love her too, Buzz!
Maybe so, but she would have trouble trying to start a war there.
Just any old nasty, inconsiderate, thing will do, eh? It's okay, though. She is bigger, stronger, and nicer than all her accumulated critics. Thus, some sorry miscreant had to attack an innocent man because he 'could.' Now that miscreant will pay the cost with the 'duration' of his life!
Huh?
What portion of current news don't you comprehend in my comment? Highlight it and I will help you out if I can.
Just trying to understand what your last statements had to do with a meme about Nancy. As for her being "bigger, stronger, and nicer than all her accumulated critics" I can only say there are plenty of people that actually know her that disagree..
Imagery and symbolism from the Wizard of Oz escapes no one who knows the story! Deal with that.
Pray tell? Some names, please.
Are you actually saying there are no people that know her that think she is not what you claim? I would love proof of your statement "She is bigger, stronger, and nicer than all her accumulated critics"
Beyond her "accumulated critics"? Because you and I, both, can imagine a partisan will "partisan":
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”
Sorry, no thumbs. Can't see it.
Thank you, Tessylo. Lord knows I try (to be kind).
Good one!
Well GOP guess what 'TIME' it will be 'bright and early' in January 2023? Time for y'all to get your big chance:
1. End POVERTY!
2. Fix whatever is left of DACA undone in the lame duck Congress 2022!
3. Finish the IMMIGRATION PROBLEM AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER!
4. Fix Homelessness!
5. [Placeholder]
Time to stop pointing fingers. Stop looking for perfection. Stop pretending you all 'got' (perfection) it!
Reclaim your conservative 'children' sent to other states to become a problem just to get away from red-state homes!
2023 House - Time is coming for you all to GOVERN!
Don't choke!
I think Congress will largely be gridlocked. The Repubs have a narrow majority in the House and the Dems have the Senate. The will be less moderates on either side of the aisle in the House and not enough to get anything passed.
The big issues will be:
1. Debt Ceiling
2. Inflation
3. Industry Regulation
4. Extension or not of Trump tax cut
Repubs will try to extract spending concessions before raising the debt ceiling, Dems may decide to play chicken. The two parties have very different ideas on spending, taxes and and inflation, so compromise is unlikely.
As Repubs get less friendly with industry and more concerned about the market domination, maybe they can work a compromise in this area. Likewise with cryptocurrency regulation.
The Lame ducks have a busy month. Federal funding runs out in mid-December since they haven't passed a 2023 budget. There are some indications that a bipartisan retirement savings bill could be approved before the end of the year.
So the republicans will side-step in 2023-2024 years these pressing issues of the people:
1. End POVERTY!
2. Fix whatever is left of DACA undone in the lame duck Congress 2022!
3. Finish the IMMIGRATION PROBLEM AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER!
4. Fix Homelessness!
5. [Placeholder]
Is that your conclusion?
As you might agree, democrats will overwhelmingly partner with republicans on these issues and lo and behold republicans might reinvent their party image as friends of the suffering people. Who have a vote and are not afraid to use it! Why not make 2024 elections very competitive indeed!
You can describe it that way, or you could say progressives will side-step in 2023-24, or partisons will side-step, I said there aren't enough moderates to get anything done.
Why would you even imagine the 1-4 would be accomplished, are you being rhetorical?
It is my opinion today.
They will partner if the repubs agree to implement the Dem vision, but that won't happen. And the Dems won't partner to implement the Rupub vision.
Well, so there it is. The 'fatal' flaw of politics is nothing old can be resolved. Thus, the people will 'perish' in their wants and wishes yet again. Because congress is full of 'bull-headed" men and women who simply can't cope with the long-standing problems in society.
Don't worry; I don't blame you for those involved in not being able to get necessary stuff done!
Thanks, that a load off of my mind that I don't need this weekend.