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Nancy Pelosi

Pelosi likely to retire after this term, House Democrat says

Pelosi has previously kept her intentions close to her chest

By Timothy Nerozzi Fox News
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Tucker Carlson mocks Pelosi as 'Michael Jackson': He's had a lot of work done since we saw him last' Video

Tucker Carlson mocks Pelosi as 'Michael Jackson': He's had a lot of work done since we saw him last'

'Tucker Carlson Tonight' host joked on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's media appearance on 'Face the Nation. 'No Billy Jean. Apparently, he's given up singing, now he's telling lies about politics.'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not commented on rumors of her possible retirement at the end of this term, but that hasn't stopped lower-ranking Democrats from eyeballing her position. Party insiders have begun speculating on the future of Democratic leadership if she resigns from her post.

"My gut would tell me that this would be her last term," Democratic House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth, D-Ky., told The Hill. "I see a lot of people who would be the presumed successors donating a lot of money to their colleagues." 

MEET THE DEMOCRATS WHO COULD REPLACE PELOSI AS PARTY LEADER IN 2023

Pelosi, D-Calif., has previously kept her intentions close to her chest, telling The Associated Press in 2018 that she "can take the heat" from Republicans. 

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of Calif., and House Democrats, now in the majority, unveil a comprehensive elections and ethics reform package that targets what they call a "culture of corruption in Washington" and aims to reduce the role of money in politics, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 4, 2019. She is joined from left by Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., and Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats unveil an elections and ethics reform package at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 4, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

At least 23 Democratic legislators are set to retire or run for a different office this year, destabilizing the party's rank and file lawmakers.

Additionally, increasing tensions between the far-left faction of the party and more moderate Democrats have produced a disconnect in messaging. 

Despite occasional cooperation on policy, progressive members of the "Squad" have taken swipes at Pelosi's leadership, making the future of Democratic leadership pivotal for defining a path forward for the Democrats.

CONGRESSIONAL DEMS ROILED BY DIVISION ON ISSUES FROM MASSIVE SPENDING BILLS TO VACCINE MANDATES

Despite recent chatter that she is considering a run for reelection, Pelosi is still widely expected to cede the top spot among House Democrats to another member of her party in the next Congress, especially if Republicans take back the chamber as many expect. 

By the current leadership chart, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., is first in line to replace Pelosi, and House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., is second. 

Neither has announced his intentions to replace the California Democrat.

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Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat from Texas, from right, Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan, and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, listen during a news conference introducing the Equality Act, H.R. 5, with Senate and House Democratic members at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, March 13, 2019. The Equality Act amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in several public and federal services. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and fellow lawmakers listen during a news conference introducing the Equality Act in Washington. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Pelosi and House Democrats had high hopes in early 2021 after she secured another term as speaker along with a very narrow majority in the Senate and President Biden in the White House.

However, political infighting between moderates and progressives compounded with nearly two dozen House Democrats announcing in 2021 they aren't seeking reelection have hurt her image ahead of the 2022 midterm elections next November.

Fox News's Tyler Olsen and Houston Keene contributed to this report.

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