Pelosi, 82, made the announcement in a dramatic speech Thursday after addressing the House floor as she received a standing ovation from her colleagues. “I will not seek re-election to the Democratic leadership in the next Congress,” Pelosi said, noting that she will continue to represent her California district. “It’s time for a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus that I respect so deeply.” The first woman to hold the House Speaker — Pelosi is the longest-serving Democratic House leader. Her decision will have a significant impact on Democrats in their new position as the House minority. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, November 17, 2022. Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA via Shutterstock Pelosi’s spokeswoman, Drew Hamill, said Wednesday that she plans to comment on her political future, hours after ABC News predicted that Republicans had officially won majority control of the U.S. House, ending her four-year Democratic majority despite strong midterms for the party. A source told ABC News congressional correspondent Rachel Scott that Pelosi took home two different versions of speeches Wednesday night. As she arrived at the Capitol Thursday morning, Pelosi, wearing white and flanked by her top aides, did not answer questions about her political future. Last Sunday — when a House majority was still not expected — Pelosi, when asked on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” if she would run again for the role if Democrats retain control, did not would answer. “I’m not — right now, I’ve said I’m not going to make any comment until this election is over and we’ve got a little bit more time,” he said, noting that he has no plans to leave Congress. In this Dec. 18, 2019, file photo, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi holds the gavel as she presides over the House of Representatives approving two articles of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters, FILE Pelosi had said the attack on her husband Paul would affect her decision to remain in the House leadership after the midterms. Before the attack, many members have called for a younger generation of Democratic leadership. The top three House Democrats are all in their eighties. Pelosi issued a statement after the House call for Republicans, saying House Democrats have “defied expectations” this cycle after predictions of a “red wave.” As of Thursday morning, Republicans had won 218 seats in the chamber compared to Democrats’ 211. “In the next Congress, House Democrats will continue to play a leading role in supporting President Biden’s agenda — with strong leverage over a slim Republican majority,” Pelosi said Wednesday in a memo. House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, who won the Republican nomination for speaker in the next Congress on Tuesday, celebrated his party’s control of the House Wednesday night with Fox News’ Sean Hannity: “Think for a moment. . It’s official,” he said. “Democratic one-party rule in Washington is over. We fired Nancy Pelosi.”
