Rumors Abound, Will Nancy Pelosi Retire After 2022 Midterm Election?

Rumors Abound, Will Nancy Pelosi Retire After 2022 Midterm Election?

With the beginning of the new year, talk has turned to the 2022 midterm election. It is normal conventional wisdom that the party in control of the White House tends to lose seats at the halfway mark of the sitting president’s term, but some of the more interesting speculation has been about the future of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). 

A Washington Post report on Monday says that Pelosi is “expected” to retire after the midterm election this fall.

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Will She Or Won’t She?

Speculation about Pelosi stepping down began as early as October of 2021 when CNN’s Jake Tapper tried to get an answer from her on his “State of the Union” show.

After being asked a second time by Tapper, Pelosi snarked back, “Why would I tell you that now? Probably, I would have that conversation with my family first, if you don’t mind.”

Currently, 23 House Democrats have announced they will not seek reelection and are heading for the exits. This provides even more fuel to the fire of questions over who might be Pelosi’s successor? 

There are several names on the list, from both factions of the Democrat Party. And while all are saying they want someone who will unify the party, unification or further division among rank and file Democrats and far-left progressives will depend on who ultimately gets the gavel.

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Names Being Floated

At the top of the list is Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). He would make history being the first African-American to lead either chamber of Congress. While the choice of Jeffries would satisfy many far-left progressives, Jeffries says that, while he considers himself a progressive, “there’s a difference between progressive Democrats and hard-left democratic socialists.” 

Another name on the progressive wish list is Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA). The selection of Jayapal would bring, to use one of the left’s favorite words, “gravitas” to the far-left wing of the party.

Jayapal said of possibly vying for the job: 

“I think there was a ‘holding of power’ model that worked very well for a long time, and I think now it is more about a recognition of different centers of focus within the Democratic caucus that have to be brought in and brought together. It takes some acceptance of more-decentralized leadership.”

Some of the tried and true of the old guard are on the list. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC). Again, in the case of Clyburn, the Democrats’ obsession with checking all the right boxes comes into play here.

Bother Hoyer and Clyburn are elder statesmen of the House, and to many, the former might seem like the natural succession. However, that leaves Clyburn, who would also make history as the first African-American to lead either chamber of Congress. Clyburn being passed over would undoubtedly have many yelling racism, particularly in the current “woke” Democratic Party. 

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Could Be Ugly For Democrats On Election Night

By all accounts, Election Night 2022 could be an ugly night indeed for Democrats. A December report from Politico has one Democrat strategist telling donors to essentially cash it in for 2022, telling them bluntly, “too late, we’re f***ed.” 

The same report said that a focus group of 2020 Biden voters “weren’t exactly sure what the party stands for.” A generic ballot surveying independents also had alarming news for Democrats.

Iconic Democrat Strategist James Carville recently slammed his party for caving to “stupid wokeness” with ideas like defunding police. Democrats’ other problems include low poll numbers for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, inflation, the border crisis, Afghanistan, supply chain issues, and high crime in many cities. 

Republicans need a mere six seats to regain control of the House. As for Pelosi, she may be well on her way to wearing a big floppy hat wandering along a California beach very soon.  

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