Pelosi says members urging her to consider House leadership again
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Photo: Joseph Eid/AFP via Getty Images
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Sunday her congressional colleagues are encouraging her to run for another term as Democratic leader.
Why it matters: The comment is the starkest indication yet that Pelosi is mulling another run for the position she's held variably as speaker and minority leader for nearly two decades.
What she's saying: In a CNN "State of the Union" interview, Pelosi said "of course" she will make a decision about re-election to the position before the Democrats' leadership elections on Nov. 30.
- "People are campaigning, and that's a beautiful thing, and I'm not asking anyone for anything," Pelosi said, "My members are asking me to consider doing that."
- "Let's just get through the [2022 midterm] election," she added.
Between the lines: Whether Democrats keep the majority in the House is expected to have a significant impact on Pelosi's decision-making.
- She is much more likely to stay if she can be the speaker than the House minority leader.
- "The Speaker will make an announcement when she makes an announcement," Pelosi spokesperson Drew Hammill said in a statement. "Until then, let’s all enjoy watching Kevin McCarthy lose a speakership his party hasn’t even won in the first place."
- Asked on Sunday whether McCarthy has what it takes to be speaker, Pelosi said, "No, I don't think he has it."
State of play: Roughly 20 House races remain uncalled by the Associated Press as of Sunday. Neither party has reached the 218 seats needed to take the majority.
- Democrats would have to win three-quarters of those seats to keep the House — a long shot, but not out of the question.
- "They've been measuring for draperies. They've been putting forth an agenda. They haven't won it yet," Pelosi said Sunday.
The other side: McCarthy has been working to shore up the votes from his members to become speaker in what will likely be a razor-thin majority, but right-wing members of his conference are threatening to derail his candidacy.
A spokesperson for McCarthy did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
