Skip to content

Nancy Pelosi Suggests Wednesday Announcement

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is suggesting she will announce her plans on whether to run for another term as minority leader in a Democratic Caucus meeting scheduled for Wednesday morning.

“When I see my caucus, I will discuss it with them in the beginning of this week rather than discuss it with rumor in Washington,” Pelosi told reporters at a Veterans Day event Sunday in San Francisco.

Asked if she was staying on, Pelosi said, “I will make that announcement to my caucus. I know that we’re best friends and all, but I think that I will share that with them first,” according to a transcript provided by Pelosi’s office.

The comments come as another clue points to Pelosi opting against an exit.

The California Democrat called Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., over the weekend, the first time the two had spoken since the Nov. 6 elections.

Hoyer was left with the impression Pelosi was staying, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, but she was not definitive, saying she still needed to consult with her family.

“She’s talking with members. When she’s ready to make an announcement, she will do so,” Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said.

 

At the Veterans Day event, Pelosi said her silence about her plans was not unusual.

“It’s not mysterious, we’re just finishing elections. We don’t even have all the returns in, some are still counting. We’re very proud of the election,” she said.

Pelosi went on to tout the diversity of the incoming Democratic Caucus and offer a positive assessment of the election results.

“When we go back to Washington, we will have a Democratic Caucus that’s a majority of women and minorities — imagine that. First time in the history of the world and our country. We will have nearly 50 new members in our caucus elected in this campaign. Again I say nearly because we don’t know what the final number will be because they’re not all counted,” she said.

“We were very unified in our attempt to win as many seats as possible. We won about 50 seats, we won 25 Republican seats, but we did not net 25. We’ve saved another 25 Democratic seats, so it was a very successful election, especially with the election of President Obama. So I look forward to working with him.”

Pelosi separately announced a press conference on Tuesday with Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel of New York “with newly elected House Democratic members to highlight the size and historic diversity of the incoming House Democratic freshman class.”

Recent Stories

Five races to watch in Pennsylvania primaries on Tuesday

‘You talk too much’— Congressional Hits and Misses

Senators seek changes to spy program reauthorization bill

Editor’s Note: Congress and the coalition-curious

Photos of the week ending April 19, 2024

Rule for emergency aid bill adopted with Democratic support