House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi to run again (VIDEO)
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., talks about the congressional supercommittee negotiations during her weekly briefing at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 17, 2011.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is staying on the job another two years.
Pelosi, 72, announced in a press conference Wednesday at the US Capitol that she will run for House minority leader again, although her election is all but certain, Democrats told the Wasington Post.
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“The message is clear from the American people,” she told an excited Democratic Caucus. “They want us to work together to get things done. And that’s what these folks are here to do. Just like all of you. We may not have the gavel, but as I can see in this room, we have the unity.”
A question from NBC's Luke Russert over Pelosi's age drew boos and heckles from other female lawmakers standing behind her, according to US News & World Report.
Pelosi called the question "offensive" and suggested she was only asked because she is a woman, noting the ages of Senate leaders Mitch McConnell and Harry Reid (both in their 70s).
Seen as a crusading reformer by backers and a reckless liberal by Republican critics, Pelosi became the first woman to lead a party in Congress 10 years ago and the first and only woman speaker of the House in 2007, according to Reuters.
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Her decision was met with derision by Republicans.
"This decision signals that House Democrats have absolutely no interest in regaining the trust and confidence of the American people who took the speaker's gavel away from Nancy Pelosi in the first place," Paul Lindsay, spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee, told The Associated Press.
Pelosi had been mum for months on whether she would seek the job again, and top aides still didn't know what she would do early Wednesday.
The GOP had privately been hoping Pelosi would step down in favor of House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland, Politico reported.
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