Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, on Friday announced she would run for re-election to her San Francisco congressional seat. Pelosi, a Democrat, was first elected to the House in 1987.
“Now more than ever our city needs us to advance San Francisco values and further our recovery. Our country needs America to show the world that our flag is still there, with liberty and justice for ALL. That is why I am running for reelection — and respectfully ask for your vote,” Pelosi said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
San Francisco is still suffering from a major crime wave including smash-and-grab robberies and carjackings. In August, the San Francisco Police Department said the city had nearly 1,670 car break-ins over 30 days, and there have been nearly 10,000 thefts from vehicles in the city so far this year.
Pelosi’s reelection run also comes amid growing concerns about aging lawmakers in Washington, including octogenarian Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and 90-year-old Senator Dianne Feinstein.
President Biden has not escaped scrutiny over his age, either. A recent Wall Street Journal poll found two-thirds of Democrats think he is too old to run for president again. Pelosi has come to the president’s defense, however, calling age “relative.”
Representative John James, a Michigan Republican, introduced a resolution that would require Congress to set age limits through a constitutional amendment. The measure disqualifies anyone from running for president, vice president, or Congress if they would be 75 years old or older at any time during their term.
If approved, the age limit would bar 16 current senators and 43 House members from seeking reelection.