Top Republican leaders did not attend House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) speech Thursday announcing she is stepping down from her leadership position.
Video footage of the House chamber showed that only House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) attended Pelosi’s speech among the GOP leaders. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Chair of the House Republican Conference Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) were not there.
“I will not seek reelection to Democratic leadership in the next Congress,” Pelosi said. “For me, the hour’s come for a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus.”
Pelosi has led House Democrats since 2003, including two terms as speaker.
“There is no greater special honor for me than to stand on this floor and to speak for the people of San Francisco. This I will continue to do as a member of the House speaking for the people of San Francisco, serving the great state of California and defending our Constitution,” the 82-year-old continued.
It came about a day after The Associated Press called the House for Republicans after the midterm elections last week. Republicans announced they nominated McCarthy as leader of House Republicans earlier this week as he beat back a challenge from Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.).
The decision by some House Republicans not to attend Pelosi’s speech captures the frosty relations between Democrats and Republicans in the House. For months, Democrats repeatedly attacked Republicans for being extremists while commissioning a House select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol breach.
After Pelosi’s announcement, current House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) announced Thursday that he will not seek a leadership position.
Some analysts say that Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), the head of the House Democratic Caucus, would attempt to replace Pelosi as leader of the party in the lower chamber. Hoyer endorsed Jeffries for majority leader.
“I do intend to continue my service in Congress and return to the Appropriations Committee as a member to complete work in which I have been involved for many years,” Hoyer, 83, said in a letter.
Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), 82, said he planned to stay in leadership but did not know what position he would fill. In a statement, he said he hoped new leaders would include Jeffries and House members Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.).
McCarthy, meanwhile, will face election by the entire House at the start of the new year. It is not clear if he will secure enough support at that point to win the speakership.
