Pelosi won’t say if she’ll run for Speaker again if Democrats win: ‘That’s not a question’

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Sunday would not say if she plans to run for Speaker again if the Democratic Party holds control of the House after the November midterm elections.

Asked by anchor George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week” if she will mount another bid for Speaker, Pelosi said “that’s not a question.”

Pelosi instead emphasized that “my purpose right now is just to win that election.”

“Nothing less is … at stake than the, our, democracy,” she added.

.@GStephanopoulos: “How worried are you about the midterms right now?” @SpeakerPelosi: “I don’t agonize, I organize. We fully intend to win this election…Forget history, we’re talking about future.” https://t.co/UiOZSt7ouE pic.twitter.com/HJG2NrkouO

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 13, 2022

Pelosi announced last month that she will run for reelection in 2022, despite making a pledge in 2018 that the current term would be her last as Speaker after leading House Democrats for the previous 19 years.

November, however, is shaping up to be an uphill battle for Democrats, as 29 lawmakers in the party have said they are not running for reelection.

Republicans only need to flip five seats to take control of the lower chamber.

Speculation has swirled in the lead-up to the midterm elections that House Democrats may try to replace their leadership, as the top three members — Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) — are all in their 80s.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who is currently serving as House Democratic Caucus chairman, has been viewed inside the party as a favorite to succeed Pelosi as Speaker.

Pelosi on Sunday said the party has “decided to win and that’s what we will do” when asked about the midterm elections.