House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday that she will not seek reelection as the Democratic leader in the chamber after Republicans retook the majority in last week’s midterm elections.
Pelosi, 82, has led House Democrats for nearly two decades, initially taking the helm as minority leader in 2003 and developing a reputation for enforcing strict party unity in key votes, which helped make her a villainous figure to Republicans.
The soon-to-be former speaker previously said her future plans would be affected by the health of her husband Paul, also 82, who was attacked by a hammer-wielding intruder at the couple’s San Francisco home last month and is recovering from a fractured skull.
