House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is not ready to abandon her leadership position, despite the drubbing handed to Democrats on Tuesday.
Pelosi sent a letter to colleagues announcing her candicacy and, for good measure, also posted her intentions to Twitter. The announcement would seem to quash the candidacy of the current Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer, who was known to be interested, but said he would run only if she decided not to.
The decision comes after a rough election cycle for Pelosi, who was demonized by Republicans as a symbol of the country’s wrong turn under President Obama.
Here’s the letter, via the Washington Post:
Over the past several days, I have spoken with many Democratic colleagues about how to continue our fight for to make our country more secure and strengthen the middle class, create jobs, protect Social Security and Medicare, and promote the innovation, technology and education to make America Number One in the world. As always, I am inspired by the fighting spirit of our Democratic Members.
As you know, Democrats have produced historic legislation in the area of health care, veterans’ benefits, women’s rights, Wall Street reform, and cutting taxes for 95 percent of the American people and millions of small businesses. And we have restored fiscal discipline to the Congress by making the deficit-cutting Pay As You Go rules the law of the land.
These accomplishments have begun the difficult work of recovering from the worst economic collapse since the 1930s and, according to independent reviews, prevented our country from plunging into another Great Depression. As a result, numerous congressional experts call this the most productive Congress in a half century. This was only possible because our Members had the courage of their convictions and put the interests of the Country first.
Our work is far from finished. As a result of Tuesday’s election, the role of Democrats in the 112th Congress will change, but our commitment to serving the American people will not. We have no intention of allowing our great achievements to be rolled back. It is my hope that we can work in a bipartisan way to create jobs and strengthen the middle class
Many of our colleagues have called with their recommendations on how to continue our fight for the middle class, and have encouraged me to run for House Democratic Leader. Based on those discussions, and driven by the urgency of protecting health care reform, Wall Street reform, and Social Security and Medicare, I have decided to run.
I am writing to respectfully request your support and I look forward to hearing your views. Please let me know what you are thinking.
Thank you for your leadership and friendship.
best wishes,
Nancy Pelosi
