(New York Post) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday she will not seek re-election as the Democratic leader in the chamber after Republicans retook the majority in last week’s midterm elections.
Pelosi (D-Calif.), 82, has led House Democrats for nearly two decades, initially taking the helm as minority leader in 2003 and developing a reputation for enforcing strict party unity in key votes, which helped make her a villainous figure to Republicans.
The soon-to-be former speaker previously said her future plans would be affected by the health of her husband Paul, also 82, who was attacked by a hammer-wielding intruder at the couple’s San Francisco home last month and is recovering from a fractured skull.
Pelosi was born into a Maryland political family — her father, Thomas D’Alesandro Jr., was Baltimore’s mayor and a House member himself. She served as House speaker twice — from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019.
The Democratic leader clung to her post despite calls within the party for a new generation of leaders. The House’s No. 2 Democrat, Steny Hoyer of Maryland, is 83 years old and No. 3 Democrat Jim Clyburn of South Carolina is also 82.
