House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced on Tuesday that she will seek re-election this fall in California’s 12 Congressional District, which is located in San Francisco.
“Pelosi’s announcement that she will run for reelection comes despite her previous pledge in 2018 that this term would be her last as Speaker after leading House Democrats for the last 19 years,” The Hill reported. “With Democrats facing an uphill battle to keep their House majority after this year’s midterm elections, speculation has grown that House Democrats will replace their old guard of leadership.”
In a three-minute video posted to Twitter, the 81-year-old Pelosi said that her “why” for being in Congress is “for the children.”
“While we’ve made progress, much more needs to be done to improve people’s lives,” she said. “Our democracy is at risk because of the assaults on the truth, the assaults on the U.S. Capitol, and the state by state assault on voting rights. This election is crucial. Nothing less is at stake than our democracy. But as we say, we don’t agonize, we organize.”
“And that is why I am running for re-election to Congress and respectfully seek your support,” she concluded. “I’d be greatly honored by it. And grateful for it. Thank you so much.”
WATCH:
While we have made progress much more needs to be done to improve people’s lives. This election is crucial: nothing less is at stake than our Democracy.
But we don’t agonize-we organize. I am running for re-election to Congress to deliver For The People and defend Democracy. -NP pic.twitter.com/ojwFPOdRs3
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) January 25, 2022
TRANSCRIPT:
NANCY PELOSI, HOUSE SPEAKER (D-CA): Hello, it’s Nancy. Thank you for the opportunity to share some thoughts with you. Our VIPs – our Volunteers in Politics – in our ongoing engagement for the people. Thank you for being a constant source of new, fresh ideas and political activism to help Democrats deliver and to defend democracy. Thank you for giving me the privilege to represent our city and our San Francisco values in the Congress. Human rights, reproductive justice, LGBTQ equality, respect for immigrants and care for each other. When people ask me, ‘What are the three most important issues facing the Congress,’ I always say the same thing: Our children. Our children. Our children. Their health, their education, the housing and economic security of their families, a clean safe environment in which they can thrive, and a world of peace and where they are all welcome in which they can reach their fulfillment.
That is my ‘why.’ Why I’m in Congress – for the children. This is my story. And this is my song. As you hear me say, ‘when you’re in the arena, you have to be able to take a punch, or throw a punch, for the children.’ In terms of health, my first words on the floor of the house were to fight against HIV/Aids. To fight the disease and discrimination. Working together we passed the Affordable Care Act, strengthened Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, lower prescription drug prices, and now are fighting COVID with equity.
In San Francisco, the climate is not an issue. It is an ethic. Education, the economy, and the environment are all part of how we address the climate crisis, creating good paying green union jobs, affordable housing, clean energy, infrastructure, transportation justice, and education. Educating the next generation to succeed in safe schools with 21st century skills. Our safe communities require gun violence prevention, addressing the root causes of crime, and supporting law enforcement with justice in policing. Our vision for a world of peace requires a strong democracy at home, as an example to the world. We are grateful to our men and women in uniform, veterans, and military families, and honor their sacrifice with our insistence on securing voting rights and end the big dark money in politics and amplifying the voice of the grassroots.
While we’ve made progress, much more needs to be done to improve people’s lives. Our democracy is at risk because of the assaults on the truth, the assaults on the U.S. Capitol, and the state by state assault on voting rights. This election is crucial. Nothing less is at stake than our democracy. But as we say, we don’t agonize, we organize. And that is why I am running for re-election to Congress and respectfully seek your support. I’d be greatly honored by it. And grateful for it. Thank you so much.