Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi predicted Sunday that Democrats will regain control of the US House of Representatives in the next midterm elections, clearing the way for Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries to become the next speaker.
Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” Pelosi said she sees no scenario in which Jeffries would fail to assume the gavel if Democrats win the majority, framing the race as a test of Congress’ role as a check on presidential power.
“Hakeem Jeffries is ready,” Pelosi said. “He is eloquent. He is respected by the members; he is a unifier.”
Her remarks come as Democrats seek to position themselves against President Donald Trump’s second term agenda, while Republicans defend a narrow House majority amid a polarized political climate.
Pelosi, eighty five, announced last month that she will not seek reelection, ending a nearly forty year congressional career representing San Francisco.
First elected in nineteen eighty seven, she became the first woman to serve as House speaker in two thousand seven and reclaimed the role more than a decade later.
Her tenure included passage of the Affordable Care Act and frequent clashes with Trump, including two impeachment proceedings during his first term.
Jeffries, a New York Democrat, succeeded Pelosi as House Democratic leader in two thousand twenty three.
If elected speaker, he would become the first Black American to hold the post, a milestone that Democrats say reflects generational and demographic shifts within the party.
Pelosi said a Jeffries led House would reclaim oversight powers she argues have eroded under Republican control.
“Right now, the Republicans in the Congress have abolished the Congress,” she said. “They just do what the president insists that they do.”
Political analysts say Pelosi’s comments underscore Democratic confidence but also highlight the uncertainty surrounding midterm elections nearly a year away.
“Midterms often serve as a referendum on the sitting president,” said Laura Mitchell, a political science professor at Georgetown University.
“Pelosi is betting that voter dissatisfaction will translate into a House majority and elevate Hakeem Jeffries as speaker.” Others caution that predictions this early remain speculative.
“Structural factors like redistricting and turnout will matter just as much as national mood,” said Robert Ellis, a former congressional staff director.
“Jeffries is well positioned within his caucus, but the math still has to work.” Republicans currently hold the House by a slim margin, fewer than ten seats.
In recent decades, the president’s party has lost an average of about twenty House seats in midterm elections, according to Congressional Research Service data.
However, exceptions have occurred, including during periods of strong economic growth or national crises.
Democrats point to fundraising gains and competitive races in suburban districts as signs of momentum, while Republicans cite their advantage in rural areas and recent gains among working class voters.
Voters expressed mixed views about the prospect of a Jeffries speakership.
“I want Congress to actually debate again,” said Maria Gonzalez, a small business owner in Phoenix.
“If Democrats think Jeffries can do that, they should make their case.” In Ohio, Republican voter Mark Reynolds said he remains skeptical.
“I don’t see Democrats winning back the House unless something really changes,” he said. “People care about prices and security more than party leadership.”
Pelosi suggested that if Democrats regain control, a House under Jeffries would use its authority to scrutinize the administration, including control over federal spending and oversight of executive agencies.
She also said that any future impeachment proceedings would depend on circumstances, not party strategy.
“If he were to face a third impeachment under a Democratic majority, he would have no one to blame but himself,” Pelosi said of Trump.
Jeffries has not commented publicly on Pelosi’s remarks but has previously emphasized a message of unity and institutional responsibility, signaling continuity with Democratic leadership while seeking to appeal to swing district voters.
Pelosi’s prediction places Hakeem Jeffries and control of the House at the center of the coming midterm debate.
While Democrats see an opportunity to restore congressional oversight, Republicans argue their majority reflects voter priorities.
With months remaining before ballots are cast, the race for the House and the question of who will wield the speaker’s gavel remain unsettled.
