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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Tuesday she will once again run for re-election this fall.
There had been speculation that the 81-year-old California Democrat would retire at the end of her current term. But in a video posted on Twitter, Pelosi said she’s not going anywhere, calling the upcoming midterm election “crucial” to democracy.
“While we’ve made progress, much more needs to be done to improve people’s lives. Our democracy is at risk because the assault on the truth, assault on the U.S. Capitol and the state-by-state assault on voting rights. This election is crucial. Nothing less is at stake than our democracy,” she said.
Pelosi thanked her San Francisco constituents, and said she intends to keep fighting for the next generation. “When you’re in the arena, you have to be able to take a punch or throw a punch — for the children,” she said.
Pelosi was first elected to the House in 1987, and has served two stretches as Speaker of the House, from 2007-2011, and again starting in 2019. She pledged at the time that she would limit her current term as speaker to four years.
Democrats face a challenge in retaining a majority in the House in the fall election, and there is speculation that Democrats may choose new leadership.
