OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
California Democrat Rep. Nancy Pelosi is already hitting the panic button for the 2024 presidential election.
While speaking at the University of Delaware’s Mitchell Hall, the former House speaker claimed that America is facing a critical moment next November and that “the next generation has an important role to play in shaping that future.”
“This next election is crucial to our democracy,” Pelosi said. “The hope I have is in young people who care about our future, our planet, and justice and fairness.”
“I consider myself a master weaver,” Pelosi said. “I sit at that loom, and everybody knows that their thread is as important as any other thread there, and our beautiful tapestry, which is the Democratic Party in all its diversity, is incomplete unless everyone is represented there.”
The Biden Institute has presented the Woman of Power and Purpose Award to Pelosi for the past six years, and she was present on campus to receive the honor. Pelosi became the first woman to be elected speaker of the House in 2007, building on her 1987 election to Congress. Even though she resigned as leader last year, she is still serving as Congresswoman for San Francisco.
Pelosi also praised President Joe Biden.
“He has so much vision for our country, knowledge of the issues, and therefore the judgment that goes with it. Such a strategic thinker, a master legislator for decades,” she said. “And in his heart, the most empathy of anyone who’s ever been in the White House.”
Pelosi made headlines last month when she spoke out about the idea of a third-party push shaking up the 2024 election.
“No Labels is perilous to our democracy. I hesitate to say No Labels because they do have labels. They’re called no taxes for the rich. No child tax credit for children. They’re called let’s undo the Affordable Care Act,” the former House speaker told reporters.
Pelosi made her statement at a breakfast hosted by Third Way, a Democratic-centrist organization that has emerged as one of No Labels’ main adversaries this election cycle.
Twelve states have already allowed No Labels to access the ballot for November 2024. The far-left group MoveOn has asked state secretaries to look into No Labels’ potential status as a dark money organization.
Pelosi claimed that she had disregarded No Labels, even though the organization targeted her while she was the House Speaker, but that the election of 2024 will be different.
“When they jeopardize the reelection of Joe Biden as president of the United States, I can no longer remain silent on that,” she said.
Former Maryland governor and co-chair of No Labels, Larry Hogan (R) called it “disheartening to see Nancy Pelosi literally make things up about No Labels to score political points” in a statement. She assigns No Labels roles that they have never held.
The nonprofit is requesting access to the national ballot with the intention of putting together a unity ticket with a Republican and a Democrat as its leaders. The organization has not yet disclosed who would be in charge of such a ticket, as it is currently set up as a nonprofit organization exempt from donor disclosure requirements.
According to the most recent No Labels memo, there is an unprecedented desire for an independent or third-party candidate in this election cycle, in part due to the low favorability ratings of both former president Donald Trump and current president Joe Biden, the front-runners for both major parties.
Pelosi refuted the group’s premise, asserting that voters will re-join the fold once Biden is seen out on the campaign trail more frequently.
Third Way President Jonathan Cowan continued, saying that people express their dissatisfaction by showing early interest in third-party candidates. Nonetheless, he expressed his suspicion that as the general election campaign for the following year gets underway, interest in No Labels and independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will decline.
Third Way was honored to host one of the preeminent leaders in Democratic politics, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, at our office this month where she warned about the danger of No Labels’ third-party bid and their plan to force a contingent election. pic.twitter.com/eazEY0mgUj
— Third Way (@ThirdWayTweet) November 15, 2023
So let me get this straight. According to Nancy Pelosi having more choices to vote for for president is “perilous to democracy” in a democracy. Democrats are clowns.🤡
Pelosi unloads on No Labels https://t.co/C7LB4updBz
— Skye Gunn (@Skye_Gunn) November 11, 2023
Essentially, Pelosi and Third Way are worried about No Labels because they believe a moderately successful third-party candidate could garner enough electoral college votes to prevent either major party nominee from receiving the necessary majority of votes to win the presidency.
In this scenario, congressional delegations—of which Republicans control more than Democrats—would vote for the president, determining the outcome of the presidential election.
While it is improbable that a third-party candidate would receive enough electoral college votes, they worry that No Labels might give the Republican nominee the presidency if the election is forced upon the congressional delegations.
