In a riveting walk through her life beginning with the moment as a six-year old girl that she saw the U.S. Capitol for the first time, and intertwined with the growth of the Democratic Party under her leadership, Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised American democracy as she announced she will not seek a leadership role in the aftermath of Republicans having won a slim majority in the House of Representatives.
“I will not seek reelection to Democratic leadership in the next Congress, for me the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus that I so deeply respect,” Speaker Pelosi announced. She will continue to serve in Congress.
Her speech, reportedly crafted with the assistance of historian and presidential biographer John Meacham, Pelosi called the U.S. Capitol “a temple of our democracy, of our Constitution, of our highest ideals,” while warning that democracy must always be protected, a nod to the January 6 insurrection.
“Democracy must be forever defended,” she said. “The people…gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.”
Her fifteen-plus minute speech earned a standing ovation from House Democrats, and some but not all Republicans, many of whom, it appeared, did not attend.
Earlier, Puck’s Tara Palmeri reported Pelosi would stay on in Congress effectively in an “emeritus” role, helping new leaders grow into their roles.