美国国家公共电台 NPR--Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she'll end her run as the top House Democrat

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Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she'll end her run as the top House Democrat¹

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Nancy Pelosi's decision marks the end of an era for Democrats³, and triggers a search for a new generation of leadership for her caucus⁴.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

Presidents have come and gone in recent times, and Nancy Pelosi has remained.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

She became speaker of the House during the administration of President George W. Bush. She guided the Affordable⁵ Care Act to passage in Barack Obama's time. She lost the gavel, then led her party back to the majority under Donald Trump⁶ and kept the majority under Joe Biden until now.

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NANCY PELOSI: A new day is dawning on the horizon. And I look forward, always forward, to the unfolding story of our nation, a story of light and love, of patriotism⁷ and progress, of many becoming one.

INSKEEP: Republicans often demonized Pelosi. And last October, a man broke into her home and attacked her husband. But some Republicans saluted⁸ Pelosi as she announced her departure yesterday. Now, the question is, who will lead the Democrats?

FADEL: NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales is here this morning. Good morning, Claudia.

CLAUDIA GRISALES, BYLINE⁹: Good morning, Leila.

FADEL: OK. So Nancy Pelosi stepping down from leadership in the party at 82 years old. We just heard her say a new dawn is on the horizon. Is this about opening the door for younger leadership?

GRISALES: Yes. Before she announced the plan, she quoted a common biblical refrain. "For everything, there is a season."

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PELOSI: For me, the hours 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 awesome¹⁰ responsibility.

GRISALES: And this marks the culmination¹¹ of a deal Pelosi struck with her caucus nearly four years ago to step down. Of course, this comes after Republicans reached the threshold to flip¹² the House next year.

FADEL: OK. So before we get to the next generation of leadership, this marks the end of a historic chapter in Congress. What kind of legacy¹³ does Pelosi leave?

GRISALES: Right. She became first speaker in 2007. That was the first time she entered that role. And she remained Democratic leader after her party lost the House in 2011 and regained¹⁴ the speakership back when they won it - control of the chamber¹⁵ again in 2019. And in remarks to her colleagues, she recalled a story of when her father was serving in Congress, and she saw the Capitol for the first time as a 6-year-old.

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PELOSI: I was riding in the car with my brothers. And they were thrilled and jumping up and down and saying to me, Nancy, Nancy, look. There's the Capitol. And I keep - every time, I'd say, I don't see any capital. Is it a capital A, a capital B or a capital C?

GRISALES: And she said she believed then, as she does now, that it was the most beautiful building in the world because of what it represented, a temple of democracy, of the Constitution and, quote, "our highest ideals." She was first elected to Congress to represent her San Francisco district in 1987 and moved into a leadership role as Democratic whip in 2002. Over time, she built a reputation as a master legislator and a master strategist pushing through landmark¹⁶ legislation.

FADEL: Now, she's not the only one in leadership stepping down. What does this mean for the next generation? Who assumes leadership role now - roles now in the next Congress?

GRISALES: Right. So following her announcement, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Whip Jim Clyburn said they would also follow suit and step down. So now a new generation of leaders are lining¹⁷ up. That includes New York Congressman¹⁸ Hakeem Jeffries as the front-runner to replace Pelosi as Democratic leader. And if so, he would become the first African American lawmaker to lead the party in Congress.

FADEL: NPR's Claudia Grisales, thanks so much.

GRISALES: Thank you much.