Silke Jasso
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that she will relinquish her leadership post after two decades. Pelosi has built quite a legacy as one of the most polarizing and powerful figures in politics. She rose to power back in 2018 after the election by promising Democrats that she would leave her leadership post by 2022
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It looks like Democrats are now pushing for New York representative Hakeem Jeffries, 52, to succeed as leader. They will be able to vote for the new leader on November 30th.
Pelosi said that she will remain a member of Congress and will serve out the term for which she was selected. “With great confidence in our caucus, I will not seek reelection to Democratic leadership in the next Congress,” Pelosi stated.
“For me, the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic Congress that I so deeply respect. And I am grateful that so many are ready and willing to shoulder this awesome responsibility.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Announces She Will Step Down As Democratic Leader
After her speech on Thursday morning, Pelosi didn’t tell reporters who she would support. But House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said that they would also step down from their leadership post. They went on to endorse Jeffries to succeed Pelosi.
According to Hoyer, Jeffries will “make history for the institution of the House and for our country.” Clyburn objected that he hoped that California representative Pete Aguilar and Massachusetts Representative Katherine Clark would join Jeffriend in House Democratic leadership.
Before Pelosi made her official announcement, Ohio Representative Joyce Beatty told CNN she expects her caucus to throw all their support behind Jeffries. Beatty is the chariwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus. If Jeffries succeeds, he will become the first Black House Democratic leader.
“If she steps aside, I’m very clear that Hakeem Jeffries is the person that I will be voting for and leading the Congressional Black Caucus to vote for,” Beatty stated. “I don’t always speak for everybody, but I’m very comfortable saying I believe that every member of the Congressional Black Caucus would vote for Hakeem Jeffries.”
As far as Pelosi, she has kept other future plans under wraps, but she did note that the recent attack on her husband, Paul Pelosi, would affect her decision on whether or not she wants to remain in leadership.
