Pelosi To Run Again But May Step Down As Top Democrat

Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has announced that she will run for re-election in November however speculation remains over her role as the top Democrat in the House.

• Pelosi is now 81 and many are predicting that another stint as minority leader may not be on the cards should the GOP take the House in November. This leaves questions about the future of the Democratic party leadership.
• The most likely successor to Pelosi is Rep Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
• Jeffries would be the first black House leader for either party and for the Democrats Jeffries, who has wide support of Black, Hispanic and Asian caucuses in the House, would be seen as an opportunity to reengage with minority voters who have been deserting the party.
• Jeffries has a conservative lean on economic and foreign policy. A Jeffries led Democrat caucus would be seen as a swing back to the centre for the Democrats after a period of predominance by the progressive wing of the party.
• Ahead of November’s midterms it would be prudent to follow Jeffries’ public remarks. In particular, any attempts to bridge the deepening ideological schism between Democrats over the legislative agenda and reintegrate Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ).