In all likelihood, U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi plans to run for reelection to Congress next year.
The speaker of the House of Representatives, who will turn 82 in March and is likely to keep the seat representing her San Francisco district, "isn't ruling out the possibility" she will remain in a leadership role whether or not Democrats control the House in 2022, CNN reported on Wednesday.
"I'm not surprised she wants to stay in Congress," KCBS Radio political reporter Doug Sovern told "Bay Current" on Thursday. "She has not confirmed these reports, but we are pretty sure that she is going to run."
The bigger surprise, Sovern added, was that Pelosi cut a deal that could limit her time in leadership in the first place. In order to secure the votes of a handful of congressional Democrats for her speakership, Pelosi agreed in 2018 to support term limits for the top three House Democrats.
The Democratic caucus didn't ultimately vote on the proposal, but Pelosi said in 2018 she would "abide" by the proposal "whether it passes or not." Pelosi reiterated the statement last year, following Joe Biden's presidential victory.
"She would be going back on a pledge that she made very publicly," Sovern added. "But if she still has the votes, and enough people in her caucus want her to stay on, then she can stay on. Despite the griping from progressives."
Sovern noted that Pelosi will likely stay in a caucus leadership role when the next Congress convenes after the midterm elections. She also has the fundraising power to maintain her place atop the caucus.
"Pelosi would raise far more than she needed and would spread it around," Sovern said. "She has been so good at this for so long, and she is incredibly good at running the show in a way that no other speaker ever has. But there are those in the younger generation that is saying it's 'our turn.' "
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