Pelosi dismisses push for 'generational change in leadership'
by Juliegrace Brufke, Congressional Reporter
October 19, 2022 12:08 AM
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) clapped back at criticisms from within her caucus that there should be a generational change in leadership, arguing that “in some cases, there’s no substitute for experience” during an appearance on MSNBC on Tuesday.
Multiple Democratic members of the House have called for a shake-up in the leadership ranks in recent months, including Reps. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), having voiced calls for a leadership change in the House, and others — such as Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), who is running for Senate, and Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) — raising doubts that President Joe Biden should seek a second term.
But Pelosi, 82, dismissed the criticisms over the majority of Democratic leaders in Congress being over 70, arguing that if members in tough races need to take a swing at her to win, they are free to do so.
“I say, just win, baby. Just win. If that’s what you have to say to win, fine. We will not in any way do anything but totally support, mobilization, message, money for those people to win their races,” she said.
“We need generational change, of course we do, but, in some cases, there’s no substitute for experience," Pelosi said. "I think that what we had been through with the legislation under the leadership of President Biden, who has done a spectacular job — he has had a better two years than most presidents you can name, certainly in the recent generations.”
Pelosi, who was first elected to be speaker of the House in 2007 and later served as minority leader before retaking the speaker’s gavel in 2019, has previously faced a push from members of her caucus to vacate her leadership role, with the California Democrat having quelled a group calling for her ouster by striking a deal to step down from her position after this term.
While some have cast doubt on Pelosi upholding her agreement, particularly if Democrats manage to retain control of the House, one member who supported the efforts in 2018 told the Washington Examiner: “I have no reason to believe she won’t uphold her promise.”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/pelosi-dismisses-generational-change
