Nancy Pelosi resigns as Democratic leader in the US House of Representatives

In a November 17 announcement, Ms. Pelosi said she would resign as Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, but she would remain in Congress as she continued to represent the state of California. Ms. Pelosi made the announcement after Republicans won enough seats to control the House of Representatives.

Nancy Pelosi resigns as Democratic leader in the US House of Representatives. Photo: Reuters

Pelosi's likely successor is Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, but Jeffries has declined to say whether he will take the job. Democrats will elect their party's leader in the House of Representatives, who will also be the House minority leader, on November 30. Many Republicans, meanwhile, are backing Kevin McCarthy to become House Speaker when the new Congress takes office on January 3.

Nancy Pelosi, 82, is the first female Speaker of the US House of Representatives. She was the highest-ranking and most powerful woman elected in US history until Kamala Harris became the US Vice President in early 2021. The Speaker of the House is second in line to succeed the US President./.