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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announced Thursday she would not be seeking reelection as the Democrat leader in the House of Representatives.
Following Republican Congressman-elect Kevin Kiley’s defeat of Democrat Kermit Jones in California’s 3rd District, the Republican Party secured enough seats to retake the majority in the House one week after the midterm elections.
According to Fox News, Pelosi has served as the leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives since 2003 and served eight years as the Speaker.
From the House floor Thursday, Pelosi said, “Scripture teaches us that for everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. My friends, no matter what title you all – my colleagues have bestowed upon me – Speaker, Leader, Whip – there is no greater official honor for me than to stand on this floor and to speak for the people of San Francisco.”
While Pelosi said she would continue to serve the people of San Francisco and the state of California as a member of the House, she announced that she would be stepping down from her position of leadership.
“I will not seek reelection to Democratic leadership in the next Congress,” she said. “For me, the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic Caucus that I so deeply respect, and I’m grateful that so many are ready and willing to shoulder this awesome responsibility.”
While announcing her decision to step away from leadership in the Democrat Party, Pelosi told her fellow representatives that they must “move boldly into the future” by remaining “grounded” in their principles while remaining “open to fresh possibilities for the future.”
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who currently serves as the minority leader in the House, is expected to become the next Speaker of the House, following a vote Tuesday by House Republicans that nominated him for the position, according to NPR.
McCarthy has already unveiled his first priorities if he is formally elected to the position. On Tuesday, he tweeted, “As Speaker—I will take action to fix what Nancy Pelosi so badly broke.” He added, “House Republicans’ work begins immediately: Deliver on our Commitment to America. Hold this Administration accountable. Stop the Biden agenda.”
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