Washington (CNN) - Outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday she will run for minority leader, even as some moderate and conservative Democrats have said she should step aside. Pelosi made the announcement on Twitter: "Driven by the urgency of creating jobs & protecting #hcr, #wsr, Social Security & Medicare, I am running for Dem Leader."
She further explained her decision in a statement.
"Our work is far from finished. As a result of Tuesday's election, the role of Democrats in the 112th Congress will change, but our commitment to serving the American people will not," Pelosi said in a statement. "Many of our colleagues have called with their recommendations on how to continue our fight for the middle class, and have encouraged me to run for House Democratic Leader."
Moderate Democratic Rep. Dan Boren of Oklahoma was the latest to urge Pelosi to step aside and not run for House Minority Leader.
"I cannot in good conscience support Nancy Pelosi as our leader," Boren told CNN in a telephone interview, "I intend to support a more conservative Democrat, a Democratic alternative."
"I think most people in the Democratic caucus are giving her room to make the room to retire, to leave gracefully. But, you know, I think it is important to see over the next 24-48 hours if we will see an alternative emerge," Boren said.
Boren's public pressure for Pelosi to go follows similar comments from North Carolina's Democratic Rep Heath Schuler and Utah's Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson who have also said they would prefer a new, more centrist Democratic leader.
"I think based on the outcome of this election, we should all acknowledge what the American people said, and they are looking for change. And I think when you as a political party suffer losses of historic proportions, it makes sense to change things up," Matheson told CNN in a telephone interview." "Therefore I don't think she should be running for leader."
Still, after Tuesday's losses, moderate Democrats are now a very small part of the Democratic caucus. The bigger question, according to multiple Democratic sources, is what Pelosi's fellow progressives want her to do.
Americans United for Change, a progressive political organization, sent an email notice to its members Friday morning urging Pelosi to stay.
The notice asks people to send a personal note to Speaker Pelosi.
"Make sure she knows that we will support her," said the email.
"If she runs, she will win," said one senior Democratic source.
Still, while Pelosi's tireless fundraising has built reservoir of support among Democratic lawmakers, several Democratic sources said there are a number of progressive Democrats who do not want her to run.
Meanwhile, Kentucky Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth, who had been a staunch supporter of Pelosi's, told a television station in his home state he wants Pelosi to step down as Democratic leader.
"I know that there is some thought that Nancy Pelosi may stay around," Yarmuth said Thursday, "As good a leader as she has been, I don't think she's the right leader to take us
From CNN Politics
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Hey nancy,hav'nt you done enough damage already.You just finished torching the dems now you wanna pour gas on the still smoldering embers.GO HIDE FOR A WHILE DUMMY.
Pelosi should find a nice hole – and crawl in it. No more big planes, no more out of control government spending, no more bought and paid for politicians. Some old habits are hard to break – hit the road Nancy and don't you come back no more no more no more no more! Right behind Opra you have to be the 2nd most hated women in America!
She is the single most directly responsible person for the democratic party losing control of the house. If she is elected to this leadership position our cause is only further damaged.
Pelosi is one of the very few Democrats who has the balls to deal with Republicans. Everything the Democrats got passed the last two years was largely in part of her leadership. Now that basically only Republicans voted last Tuesday, they want to throw hew out. The country did not speak last Tuesday. Only Republicans did. The real deal vote will come in 2012. Shameful on you weak Democrats.
Hopefully the Democrats will realize they won't have any credibility with Pelosi has the minority leader and choose someone else instead.
Speaker Pelosi should step aside from politics all together. Democrats beware, this crazy lady needs to go. Pushing health care the way she did was pathetic. We the people decide and send leaders to congress. She and the rest of the clowns did not listen to the people. Now the people have spoken step down crazy lady!
Take a break Nancy! You have screwed our country enough!
Interesting. The wicked witch from the west is the most hated woman in America. Also the most partisan.
good for nancy pelosi. she has been a great speaker and will do good being dem minority leader in the house. we will need her to deal with boener.
Hey Wes B. Most people don't like Ms. Pelosi, not because of her personality, but because of lack of leadership. Anytime the Speaker of the house states that a bill "Has to be passed to know what is in it" that is distinct lack of leadership. A real leader would have the backbone to slow everything down and give the House a chance to know what is being voted on. Her "strongarming" the democrats to pass any piece of garbage legislation to pacify the president should be replaced.
Wow, she must not listen to anyone but her advisors and her husband.
That's great news, we need to keep the opposition energized.
@Dutch/Bad Newz, VA – man, are you blind or just dumb? How in hell do you figure that the deficit has been reduced as it has grown exponentially? You need to get a grip and try to support people with brains that will actually help this country!
She's blind to the American people. She's blind to her own party. She is as much to blame for this mess as Reid and Obama. She needs to hide in a corner, not shout from the rafters.
The damage to our party is extensive. I am hoping there is a village elsewhere, who is looking to replace their idiot.
Is truly scarey how out of touch these politcians are.......They really have become disconnected from the reality of the real world.
Ms. Pelosi..I think the botox has seeped into your puny, aged, shrunken brain. Please retire. Go back to your family's wealth which you did not earn.
Nancy – I think you should get rid of medicare for seniors and unemployment benefits. The seniors and the unemployed can then rely on the kindness of the Republicans they elected and the Big Businesses who supported them .
Pelosi done a good job? Ya and the country is doing amazing. What a joke. And if i am hating its because I hold elected officials to higher standards which they are not living up to. Hello people!!!!! There is way to much nonsense going on and it all starts in Washington. Ya and Pelosi jaming spending and healthcare down peoples throats is a good job??? NO ONE READ THE BILL SO HOW DO THEY KNOW IT WAS GOOD?!?!?!?! Wish people could do some intelligent thinking and look past what you see and hear on tv and read on this website. Its all smoke in mirrors for certain people to retain power. SOOOOO IF YOU THINK THATS a good thing than ya you'll love Pelosi. She abuses her position for personal gain and thats exactly what we don't need in Washington. Take reed with you Pelosi on your way out.
So Dutch.. let me get this straight.. when someone doesn't care for Pelosi because of her extremist ideals, damaging cronyism and unprecedented dishonesty and partisanship... you call that bigotry????? WOW.! No wonder the normal people in the country don't like her and people who agree with her views.. you guys have a seriously distorted perception of reality! Thank God she has been shoved aside.. she did nothing but spew communist propaganda and constantly stonewall against the will of the people. She is certainly not representative of the American values that makes this country great. I hope to Hell the new House can start to undo some of the worst damage she and her Socialist buddies in the WhiteHouse have done to out children's future.
Does she still has the guts to run again, I certainly hope so, probably that will let the democraty party another big message on 2012
If Pelosi comes back it will be the worst return since Brett Favre
Liberals and progressives are hilarious, you couldn't see a elephant if it was comming straight at you. Did you not get the point on Tuesday? You're ideas and policies are defunct, american citizens are much smarter than you and saw through the moronic track that Pelosi and Obama were on. Get the joint out of your mouth, move out of you're parents basement, get an education (and a job) and try to mature a little. I would bet that if some of you actually grew up and became productive members of society, you may have something to contribute.
She is indeed has a good heart for this great Nation.....Why not she run?Because she will be side by side with the President Obama to stopped the Evil's minded Sarah Palin agenda toward the people of America.Thank you Ms Pelosi for so sure a great job you have done so far and more grace to your POWER!!!
Does this now mean that her 'jet' will be grounded? If so, the government will already be cutting back on spending. If the Obama's would let Air Force One rest for a while also, we'll save another $5,000 a minute for the cost of running them around the world.