Pelosi Makes Comments After Trump Win
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent comments have fueled the growing tensions within the Democratic Party, sharpening criticism of both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris after Donald Trump’s sweeping election victory.
In a candid interview with The New York Times, Pelosi suggested the party would have been better off if Biden had withdrawn from the race earlier, allowing Democrats a broader opportunity to choose a candidate through an open primary. The 84-year-old lawmaker’s remarks reflect the strain that has erupted within the party, especially between Biden and Harris supporters, as Democrats analyze what led to this unexpected electoral defeat.
Pelosi, a longtime strategist and power player within Democratic circles, admitted that she had hoped for a different outcome when Biden’s campaign folded mid-summer. Her vision involved an open primary, which would have allowed a spectrum of Democratic contenders to step forward, offering delegates a chance to rally behind a nominee with renewed momentum.
However, when Biden unexpectedly endorsed Harris upon his July 21 announcement to exit the race, it effectively closed off the possibility of a contested primary. “Had the president gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race,” Pelosi said, adding, “The anticipation was that, if the president were to step aside, there would be an open primary.”
Several high-profile figures were considered as possible contenders had a primary taken place. Former First Lady Michelle Obama, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and California Governor Gavin Newsom were among the names floated.
Although Newsom had previously dismissed rumors that he would replace Biden, many saw him as a viable contender, especially given his strong political influence in California.
Pelosi's acknowledgment that she did not support Harris automatically ascending as the nominee after Biden’s exit suggests that, in her view, the party may have missed an opportunity to rejuvenate its platform and broaden its appeal. “And because the president endorsed Kamala Harris immediately, that really made it almost impossible to have a primary at that time,” Pelosi revealed.
She added that a more competitive primary could have strengthened Harris’s campaign if she had still emerged as the nominee. “Kamala may have, I think she would have done well in that and been stronger going forward,” Pelosi commented. “But we don’t know that.”
The internal friction doesn’t end there. Pelosi also took aim at progressive figurehead Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., countering his recent criticism that the Democratic Party has moved away from its commitment to working-class voters. Sanders has been outspoken about what he views as the party’s need to re-engage with labor and middle-income families, but Pelosi dismissed this critique.
“Bernie Sanders has not won,” she pointedly stated, referring to his failed presidential bids in 2016 and 2020. She noted her respect for Sanders but rejected his claim that Democrats have abandoned working-class families, underscoring that the party remains committed to these values even as it grapples with the current political challenges.