This is a tragic day for America.
Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker from California’s Democratic Party, has officially declared her intention to run for a 20th term in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2024 elections. The announcement was made via a statement posted on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
According to Fox, in her statement, Pelosi, who is 83 years old, emphasized the importance of upholding San Francisco values and aiding in the city’s recovery during these challenging times. She also highlighted the need for America to continue representing the principles of liberty and justice for all. Her decision to seek re-election was presented as a response to these pressing issues.
Notably, Pelosi relinquished her role as the leader of the House Democratic Caucus the previous year, passing the baton to the current House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Despite this transition, Pelosi still holds immense respect within the Democratic party, often referred to as “Speaker Emerita,” acknowledging her extensive 35-year tenure in the House of Representatives.
Pelosi’s political journey began when she was first elected to Congress in 1987, culminating in her historic achievement as the first female Speaker of the House in 2007. She regained the Speaker’s position in 2019 and has been at the helm during several significant legislative milestones, including the passage of the Affordable Care Act and the tumultuous period marked by two impeachments of former President Donald Trump.
This announcement firmly puts to rest any speculations about Pelosi’s retirement plans, although it comes at a time when there are growing concerns about the advanced age of many elected officials, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, aged 81, Senator Dianne Feinstein, aged 90, and President Biden, who is 80 years old.
Mitch McConnell’s recent public incidents raised questions about his fitness for office, as he froze in front of news cameras twice within the year. Despite these incidents, McConnell’s physician cleared him to continue his duties after conducting tests that found no evidence of a stroke or seizure.
President Biden has also faced scrutiny regarding his age. A Wall Street Journal poll revealed that two-thirds of Democrats believe he is too old to run for president again. In response to these concerns, Pelosi defended the President, stating that age is a relative concept. She highlighted the experience and knowledge that Biden brings to the presidency, and she even jokingly referred to him as “a kid” compared to herself.