Nancy Pelosi announces she will run for re-election in 2024 aged 84

The former speaker and longtime Democratic congresswoman will seek another term after much speculation

Ex-House speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on Friday that she will seek another term in Congress as Democrats try to win back the majority in the House of Representatives.

The longtime San Francisco congresswoman posted on X, formerly known as Twitter that she will seek another term in the House despite the fact that she no longer is a member of House leadership.

“Now more than ever our City needs us to advance San Francisco values and further our recovery,” she said. “Our country needs America to show the world that our flag is still there, with liberty and justice for ALL. That is why I am running for reelection — and respectfully ask for your vote.”

If re-elected, Ms Pelosi would be 84 when she wins in the safely Democratic district. Her decision to seek re-election comes after Democratic Sen Dianne Feinstein has faced questions about her declining memory and was out of the US Senate for weeks to recover from shingles.

The issue of the age of senior politicians also hit the headlines recently after Mitch McConnell, the Republican minority leader in the Senate, twice appeared to freeze after being asked questions by journalists and had to be led away by aides. The Senate doctor has said he is well enough to continue his duties.

Questions have also been asked about the fitness for duty of President Joe Biden – who is seeking re-election next year when he will be 81 years old – and of former president Donald Trump, who will be 78. In both cases political opponents have also questioned whether their mental faculties are up to the task of leading the world’s most powerful nation.

Nikki Haley, the former US ambassador to the UN and a candidate for the Republican nomination in 2024, has said ageing politicians should “step away”.

Ms Pelosi first won her seat representing San Francisco in a special election in 1987. In 2002, she became the top Democratic leader and in 2007 became the first female speaker of the House, a role she would hold until 2011 when Republicans won the majority in the 2010 midterm election.

During that time, Ms Pelosi oversaw the passage of the American Recovery Act and the Affordable Care Act.

She resumed the role in 2019 when Democrats won back the House of Representatives. In that capacity, she led the House during both impeachments of former president Donald Trump.

She also led House Democrats in the House during the first two years of President Joe Biden’s term, during which time she passed the American Rescue Plan, a Covid-19 relief bill; the bipartisan infrastructure bill; the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in combating climate change that the United States has ever passed; and the Respect for Marriage Act, which codified marriage protections for same-sex couples.

After Democrats lost the majority in the 2022 midterm election, Ms Pelosi announced she would step aside as Democratic leader. Rep Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) succeeded her as House Minority Leader and won unanimous support.

Shortly before the 2022 midterm election, David DePape allegedly broke into Ms Pelosi’s home in San Francisco and assaulted her husband Paul with a hammer, severely injuring him.

If re-elected, Ms Pelosi would be 84 when she wins in the safely Democratic district. Her decision to seek re-election comes after Democratic Sen Dianne Feinstein, who is 89, has faced questions about her declining memory and was out of the US Senate for weeks to recover from shingles.

The issue of the age of senior politicians also hit the headlines recently after Mitch McConnell, the Republican minority leader in the Senate, twice appeared to freeze after being asked questions by journalists and had to be led away by aides. The Senate doctor has said he is well enough to continue his duties. Mr McConnell said this week that he intended to finish his term as Republican leader in the Senate and his current term as the senator from Kentucky.

Questions have also been asked about the fitness for duty of President Joe Biden – who is seeking re-election next year when he will be 81 years old – and of former president Donald Trump, who will be 78. A CNN poll this week showed that 49 per cent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters said that Mr Biden’s age is their biggest concern.

Some younger politicians have said the advanced age of elected leaders is a sign for a new generation. Nikki Haley, the former US ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration and a candidate for the Republican nomination in 2024, has said ageing politicians should “step away”.

In both cases political opponents have also questioned whether their mental faculties are up to the task of leading the world’s most powerful nation.