Nancy Pelosi resigns as House Democrat leader after GOP takes majority

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday that she would not seek re-election as House Democrat leader after Republicans regained a majority in last week’s midterm elections.

Pelosi (D-Calif.), 82, has led the House Democrats for nearly two decades, first taking the helm as minority leader in 2003 and gaining a reputation for enforcing strict party unity on key votes, which helped her vote for Republicans became a villain.

The soon-to-be former spokeswoman previously said her future plans were hampered 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 a mayor of Baltimore and a member of the House of Representatives himself. She has served as speaker of the House of Representatives twice – from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019.

The Democratic leader is sticking to her post despite calls from within the party for a new generation of leaders. The No. 2 Democrat of the House of Representatives, Steny Hoyer of Maryland, is 83 years old, and the No. 3 Democrat, Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, is also 82 years old.

The reallocation is expected to benefit emerging leaders like 52-year-old Brooklyn and Queens Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who is chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and a strong favorite to succeed Pelosi as party leader.

Development.