Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed strong optimism about Democrats’ chances of reclaiming the House in 2026 during remarks to Gen Z activists at the Voters of Tomorrow summit.
“We have no doubt that we will win the election with the House of Representatives,” Pelosi told the audience, receiving applause. She echoed the sentiment once more, saying, “No doubt.”
Pelosi also stated she believes House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., will become the next Speaker following the midterm elections.
While confident, Pelosi stressed the importance of early preparation, citing it as the key to Democratic victories in 2006 and 2018. “It’s important to be strong in the year in advance, because that’s when the troops line up. We have our messaging, we have our mobilization, we need the money to do it, but they go only next to a school to hold up the most important part: the candidate,” she said.
Pelosi also pointed to President Donald Trump’s approval ratings as a major focus for Democrats heading into the election. She called his current numbers “terrible” and predicted further decline. “By October — certainly by November, but by October, we will have — with the help of so many people working — we’ll have taken what’s his name’s numbers down,” she said.
At the summit, Pelosi appeared alongside other high-profile Democrats including Vice President Kamala Harris, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., and activist David Hogg. Harris and Raskin are scheduled to participate virtually.
A recent Fox News poll showed 46% of voters approve of Trump’s performance, while 54% disapprove—unchanged from the previous month.
