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Questions from reporters about former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's potential retirement from politics were 'shut down' by her handlers on Tuesday. In San Francisco, Pelosi took questions from reporters, amid rumors that she would not seek reelection next year. At a rally for a California ballot measure, Prop 50, staffers told journalists present at the event that their questions could only be 'on topic,' and Pelosi walked away at the end of the gaggle when asked about her political plans. Reports of a potential retirement by former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi circulated Monday, the day before an election in her home state of California could create five new congressional seats for Democrats. Californians will vote Tuesday on Proposition 50, the 'Election Rigging Response Act,' which would temporarily allow Democrats to gerrymander the state to offset possible Republican gains passed in Texas earlier this year. A Pelosi spokesman brushed aside rumors of his boss's retirement, noting that 'Speaker Pelosi is fully focused on her mission to win the Yes on 50 special election in California on Tuesday,' 'She urges all Californians to join in that mission on the path to taking back the House for the Democrats,' Pelosi spokesperson Ian Krager said. If successful, the measure may be another gem in Pelosi's crown of achievements over a nearly 40-year career in politics. During that time, she has served as Speaker of the House twice and was the first woman to serve in the role. Pelosi already has a radical progressive challenger running against her in the Democratic primary who would surely receive a boost from her departure from the race. Saikat Chakrabarti, who was the chief engineer of New York City progressive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's victory in 2018 which rocked the party establishment, is now readying for a political upset of his own. Yet, he may be snubbed of an endorsement from Pelosi if she leaves her seat, as she may choose to back California State Senator Scott Wiener as her successor. Proposition 50 is the brainchild of California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and would take the power of redrawing the map away from the bipartisan California Citizens Redistricting Commission until 2030 and return it to the state legislature, which is controlled by the Democrats. Pelosi, 85, has served in Congress since 1987. If the rumors are true and Pelosi does not seek another term in Congress, she would be the second top Democrat to announce a retirement this year. New York Democrat Jerrold Nadler announced the end of his political career at the beginning of September. In a statement issued by his office at the time, Nadler noted that the 'decision has not been easy,' but that 'it is the right time to pass the torch to a new generation.' A departure from the arena by Pelosi, when paired with Nadler's retirement, will undoubtedly signify a generational shift for the Democrat party, as concerns over the age of elected leaders have plagued political leaders of both parties. Pelosi herself fell during a trip to Luxembourg in December and subsequently underwent hip replacement surgery.
