US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday it was too early to say whether she would seek to retain her leadership position with control of the House still uncertain after Tuesday’s election, adding that she had no plans to dissapeared. In two television interviews, the top Democrat in the US House of Representatives said her party would have a “much brighter” future in the next Congress, given the weaker-than-expected Republican election results. Pelosi said she was focused on her party’s future, not her own, ahead of the Nov. 30 Democratic House leadership vote. “There are all kinds of ways to exert influence. The speaker has tremendous power, but I will always have influence,” she told CNN’s “State of the Union.” Democrats retain control of Senate as GOP push in Nevada fails Democrats secured control of the US Senate after Tuesday’s midterm elections, handing President Joe Biden victory. Control of the House remains to be seen as both sides have yet to secure the required 218 seats while ballots are still being counted. “It’s very close,” Pelosi said in a separate interview on ABC News’ “This Week.” “We didn’t give up.” “They haven’t won yet,” he added to CNN. Questions have swirled about the aging Democratic leadership with Pelosi, 82, Biden turning 80 and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, 71, all holding top offices. Pelosi, who as president is second in line for the presidency, won her 19th term on Tuesday with more than 83 percent of the vote. Asked how the recent attack on her husband would affect any decision about her future, Pelosi said she has no plans to leave Congress and is looking to move her party forward. She also threw her support behind another term for Biden should he seek re-election. “My decision will be rooted in the wishes of my family and the wishes of my caucus. But none of that will be considered until we see the outcome of all of that,” he told CNN. Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leader of the House of Representatives, has said he plans to continue in the presidency if his party wins control of the next Congress, which convenes in January. Biden said he has spoken with McCarthy but hopes Democrats will prevail. It could take several days or longer for the outcome of several House races to be known to determine which party will control the 435-seat chamber. By late Saturday, Republicans had won 211 seats, with 218 needed for a majority, ahead of Democrats with 205. This content appears as provided to The Globe by the original wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.
