- Several lawmakers have approached Pelosi about staying on as House Democratic leader, per CNN.
- In a closely-divided House, some Democrats want to see Pelosi remain in her leadership role.
- Pelosi has been widely lauded for shepherding consequential pieces of legislation through Congress.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has long been known for her ability to rally Democratic lawmakers on tough votes for consequential pieces of legislation like the Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.
But Pelosi, who has led the House Democratic caucus since 2003, was widely expected to step down from her role next year to make way for a new generation of leaders after a term-limit agreement she made while pursuing the speakership following the 2018 midterm elections.
The results of the 2022 midterms, thought, have altered the calculus — at least for some Democrats — as the party could potentially retain an incredibly slender majority after all the results are tallied.
Pelosi has been contacted by several members who have asked her to remain in her role in the new Congress — even if the party falls short of retaining its current majority, pointing to her success in maintaining party discipline, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation who spoke with CNN.
Drew Hammill, a spokesman for Pelosi, did not have a timeline for any announcements from the lawmaker.
“The speaker will make an announcement when she makes an announcement,” he said in a statement to CNN. “Until then, let’s all enjoy watching Kevin McCarthy lose a speakership his party hasn’t even won in the first place.”
To control the House, a party has to secure 218 out of the 435 total seats.
As of Nov. 12, Republicans have won 210 seats, while Democrats have claimed 198 seats, according to Insider and DDHQ.
Democrats currently control the House 220-212.
Republicans last controlled the lower chamber in January 2019, when they ceded their majority to the Democratic Party after losing seats in the 2018 midterms.
Pelosi led the chamber from 2007 to 2011 and regained the House Speaker’s gavel in 2019.
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