Age limit proposal: Will it affect Nancy Pelosi’s reelection bid?

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is running for another term in Congress. 

The 83-year-old California Democrat, who has represented a San Francisco district in Congress for nearly four decades, announced her reelection bid on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Now more than ever our City needs us to advance San Francisco values and further our recovery. Our country needs America to show the world that our flag is still there, with liberty and justice for ALL. That is why I am running for reelection — and respectfully ask for your vote,” Mrs. Pelosi said. 

Speculation has swirled over the last year about her future in Congress. Mrs. Pelosi said that the attack on her husband, Paul, in which he was struck in the head with a hammer last October, would affect her decision on whether she would mount a reelection bid.

Further adding to the intrigue was Mrs. Pelosi’s decision to step down from her leadership role in Congress when Republicans took control of the lower chamber after last year’s election. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York replaced Mrs. Pelosi atop the Democratic conference.

Mrs. Pelosi’s reelection run also comes amid growing concerns about the prevalence of aging lawmakers in Washington. 

There have been recent health scares for 81-year-old Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and 90-year-old Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California. At 80, President Biden is the oldest president in U.S. history and polls show that most voters think he’s too old for another term.

Rep. John James, Michigan Republican, introduced a resolution this week that would require Congress to set age limits through a constitutional amendment. The measure disqualifies anyone from running for president, vice president or Congress if they would be 75 years old or older at any time during their term.

If approved, the age limit would bar 16 current senators and 43 House members from seeking reelection. 

“Look, the world is not getting slower … it’s getting faster, the world’s not safer it’s getting more dangerous,” Mr. James, who is 42, said on X. “Our leaders aren’t getting any younger. So I came up with an idea for something that I believe is fair.”