WASHINGTON: The trailblazing Democrat, Nancy Pelosi, has announced to step down as speaker of the US House of Representatives.
Pelosi, representing San Francisco in Congress for the last 35 years, said she would not retire as a Democrat and continue serving her constituency.
Pelosi, who served as the top House Democrat for 20 years and speaker for two terms from 2007-2011 and again from 2019 until to date, said that new leadership of Democrats will replace her.
The 82-year-old Californian Democrat Pelosi’s announcement comes a day after Republicans clinched a majority in US House of Representatives.
Hakeem Jeffries’ candidacy
After Pelosi announced quitting the top position, Democrats rallied behind Hakeem Jeffries as the key successor of Pelosi.
According to Google, Hakeem Sekou Jeffries has served as the US representative for New York’s 8th district since 2013. His district covers parts of eastern Brooklyn and southwestern Queens in New York City
On the other hand, Republicans have also announced bringing their candidate for the speaker’s slot as Pelosi’s replacement.
According to media reports, Pelosi made announcement about quitting the top position during a speech on the House floor which Republicans boycotted. Pelosi said that she would not retire from the House and will continue to represent San Francisco which she represented for 35 years.
In her speech in the House, she said “for me, the hour’ has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic Party that I so deeply respect.” She further said: “I am grateful that so many are ready and willing to shoulder this awesome responsibility.”
Nancy Pelosi played a key role in shepherding the legislative agenda of two Democratic presidents through Congress. Pelosi helped pass President Barack Obama’s 2010 healthcare law. She also held the Biden administration to pass the law seeking the expansions of infrastructure and climate spending and gun regulations. She also presided as the House impeached Republican President Donald Trump in 2019 and 2021.
