Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is believed to be considering retirement when her term ends in January 2027, told the San Francisco Examiner that she won’t decide until after Tuesday’s election whether to run again.
“That is everything to us,” said the 85-year-old lawmaker, referring to Tuesday’s balloting.
On Tuesday, California voters will consider a ballot measure that would redraw the state’s congressional lines — a move that Ms. Pelosi supports to give Democrats a leg up in next year’s midterm elections. Other states, including Texas, are redrawing their maps in hopes of gaining GOP seats in the House.
The California Democrat has represented her San Francisco-based district for nearly four decades and served as House speaker from 2007 to 2011, and again from 2019 to 2023.
Ms. Pelosi did not seek reelection to Democratic leadership in the next Congress to make way for a “new generation to lead the Democratic caucus,” she said at the time.
After her move, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, New York Democrat, was elected House minority leader.
Ms. Pelosi joked with colleagues that she looks forward to watching Mr. Jeffries be sworn in as the first Black speaker of the House if she’s still allowed on the floor, according to reports. This sparked speculations about her stepping away from politics.
At an unrelated news conference on Monday, Mr. Jeffries addressed Ms. Pelosi’s possible retirement.
“Nancy Pelosi is an iconic, legendary, transformational figure who has done so many things over so many years to make life better for so many people,” he said. “Ultimately, we’ll wait on her to see what decision that she makes, and there’s nothing really more to say beyond that.”
Two Democrats have entered the primary in Ms. Pelosi’s district: state Sen. Scott Wiener; and Saikat Chakrabarti, former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York Democrat. Even having raised more than $2 million this election cycle so far, Ms. Pelosi does not appear to be campaigning against them.
Ms. Pelosi’s daughter, Christine Pelosi, has been involved in the Democratic Party for decades, but has not officially declared her candidacy.
Amid these rumors, a Pelosi spokesperson declined to tell Fox News Digital whether she will seek reelection.
• Lindsey McPherson contributed to this report.
