Outgoing Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) believes that Democrats will win back the House in next November’s midterms.
During an interview with Jonathan Karl that aired Sunday on ABC News’s “This Week,” the former House Speaker and longtime Democratic leader said it is a matter of when, not if.
“So if the Democrats win the House back,” Karl said.
“No, no, when,” Pelosi interjected. “When the Democrats win the House back.”
The San Francisco lawmaker also backed her successor, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), for Speaker if Democrats win back the House.
“Hakeem Jeffries is ready, he’s eloquent, he’s respected by the members, he is a unifier,” she added.
As it stands, Democrats have to flip three seats to retake a majority in the lower chamber.
According to the Cook Political Report’s latest forecast, there are 17 “toss up” seats up for grabs next fall, 12 of which are held by Republicans. In total, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has 40 pickup opportunities it is targeting for 2026.
The minority party is optimistic about its midterm chances in the wake of a string of victories in off-year races in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City last month, as Democratic candidates pledged to lower the cost of living en route to victory.
With inflation at 2.7 percent — down from 3 percent at the start of this year but still above the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target — and President Trump facing concerns from Americans, including his own supporters, on the economy, Democrats have high hopes for 2026.
If those hopes turn into a new Democratic majority, Pelosi believes that her party will fight back against Trump and his policies.
“We have the power of the purse,” she noted. “But right now the Republicans and the Congress have abolished the Congress. They just do what the president insists that they do.
“That will be over.”