US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi weighed in on the midterm elections that have still to determine which party controls the House of Representatives. Pelosi said it was too soon to say whether she would remain House Speaker ahead of the leadership vote this month.
Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union” and on ABC’s “This Week,” Pelosi said that the Democratic Party would have a “much brighter future” in the next Congress, especially as Republicans have suffered more losses down the ballot. Pelosi also said that she was more focused on the future of the Democratic Party rather than her own ahead of the leadership vote that will take place on November 30.
“There are all kinds of ways to exert influence. The speaker has awesome power, but I will always have influence,” said Pelosi on CNN.
The midterm races have yet to determine which party controls the House of Representatives. The close races in several states have yet to give either party the 218 seats needed to take control of the chamber. Pelosi said that the races are “very close” and that the party has not “given up.”
This comes amidst speculation on the party’s leadership on when Pelosi may decide to retire. Pelosi won her 19th term as speaker Tuesday with over 83 percent of the vote.
When pressed on whether the assault on her husband, Paul Pelosi, would impact any decision on her future, Pelosi said she does not intend to leave Congress and that she plans to move the party forward. Pelosi also expressed support for President Joe Biden should he seek another term.
The party’s congressional leadership Sunday pledged to tackle the country’s debt ceiling in the coming weeks, citing their recent midterm victories even as Republicans have pledged a fight ahead. Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pledged to act while the party still controls both chambers of Congress.
“Our best shot, I think…is to do it now,” Pelosi said on ABC. “Winning the Senate gave us a lot of leverage for how we go forward…in the lame duck.”
Schumer said the Senate Democratic leaders would be meeting this week to discuss how to move forward legislatively.