In the wake of Republicans taking narrow control of the House, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced she would not seek reelection to Democratic leadership in the next Congress. This means House Democrats will have a new leader for the first time in 20 years, as Pelosi has led it since the 108th Congress began in 2003. Pelosi added that she would continue to represent her San Francisco-based district, which is interesting because it would somewhat unusual for a former speaker who no longer serves in leadership to stick around. For instance, when Democrats won back the House in 2006, Republican Rep. Dennis Hastert resigned in November 2007 after not continuing in leadership.
As for who will succeed Pelosi, we know it won’t be Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, who has held the second-ranking post in the Democratic House leadership throughout the Pelosi era. He announced he would also step aside but that he, too, planned to remain in Congress. New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries appears a likely choice to succeed Pelosi, although we have not yet heard post-Pelosi plans from South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, who is the other Democratic leader of note. He previously said he planned to “stay in leadership” if Pelosi did step down, but that he wouldn’t run for the top post.