Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced on Thursday that she will step down and not seek a Democratic leadership role in the upcoming Congress.
"When I first came to the floor at 6 years old, never would I have thought that someday I would go from homemaker to House speaker," Pelosi told the House. "In fact, I never intended to run for public office."
"I have enjoyed working with three presidents, achieving historic investments in clean energy with President George Bush, transformative healthcare reform with President Barack Obama, and forging the future from infrastructure to healthcare to climate action with President Joe Biden," she continued.
Pelosi, who became the first female Speaker of the House in 2007, will continue to hold her congressional seat, representing the San Francisco area. During her remarks Thursday, she cited Ecclesiastes 3, which states that "for everything, there is a season."
"With great confidence in our caucus, I will not seek reelection to Democratic leadership in the next Congress," Pelosi said. "For me, the hour's come for a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus that I so deeply respect."
"And I'm grateful that so many are ready and willing to shoulder this awesome responsibility."
Pelosi talked about those who have supported her throughout the years, including fellow Democratic colleagues and her family. She also thanked her constituents and her "brilliant, dedicated, and patriotic staff," The Christian Post reports.
"In this continued work, I will strive to honor the call of the patron saint of our city, Saint Francis, 'Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace,'" the House Speaker said.
"In this House, we begin each day with a prayer and a pledge to the flag. And every day, I am in awe of the majestic miracle that is American democracy."
Pelosi's remarks come a day after the Republican Party retook control of the House after acquiring the 218 -seat minimum to have majority control.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) also announced Thursday that he will not seek reelection to leadership roles in the upcoming Congress. Like Pelosi, Hoyer asserted that "now is the time for a new generation of leaders."
Hoyer's announcement places Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, in line to replace Pelosi as House Democrat leader.
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy won the Republican nomination to be the next House Speaker.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Kevin Dietsch/Staff
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
