Jashlene Cawagas
After two decades of leadership, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that she would not run for any leadership position in future elections for Congress. Pelosi stepped down after Democrats lost control of the House to the Republicans in the midterm elections.
According to the Associated Press, Pelosi said on the House floor, “I will not seek reelection to Democratic leadership in the next Congress. For me, the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus that I so deeply respect. Followed by saying we must move boldly into the future.”
After being the first woman ever to hold the Speaker position, Pelosi plans to remain a member of the House despite stepping down as Speaker. As the San Francisco representative, a position she has held for 35 years, Pelosi will continue in Congress when it convenes in January.
“In her more than three decades serving in the House, Pelosi earned a reputation for amassing power in the face of male colleagues who at times undermined her opinions, and she earned respect by delivering votes on her party’s top priorities, even if that meant twisting the arms of her colleagues to take a bill over the finish line,” Marianna Sotomayor and Paul Kane, reporters from The Washington Post said.
Another factor driving Pelosi’s retirement was the attack that happened to her husband on Oct. 28th at their
San Francisco home. The couple’s residence was broken into through a glass door and Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, was hit by a hammer in the head.
Following her husband’s incident, Pelosi experienced a change regarding her political career and her wish to retire. Pelosi has been a politician for decades and first became a House speaker in 2007. This was after the Democrats rose to power in the 2006 midterm elections as a repercussion of then-President George W. Bush to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Many politicians have sent their respects for Pelosi- a farewell to a fellow comrade and associate. Though saddened by her withdrawal from the leadership position, she’s glad to continue her role as a public servant.
