House Speaker Nancy Pelosi vows Democrats will beat the odds and keep control of House in midterms

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is vowing to hold the House.

The powerful California Democratic leader brashly said at an event in Colorado on Wednesday that the party will beat the odds and keep control of the House of Representatives in the fall midterm elections.

“We have absolutely every intention of holding the House,” Pelosi said. “And the path to that victory comes right through Colorado.”

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks about the recently-signed Inflation Reduction Act during a news conference at the National Center for Atmospheric Research Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022, in Boulder, Colo. (David Zalubowski/)

Appearing alongside Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) in Boulder, Pelosi said it would be a waste of his talents to serve in the minority if Republicans retake the House in November.

“We want the best for him,” Pelosi said. “And that means serving in the majority, which we fully intend to do.”

Colorado gained a seat in 2020 thanks to redistricting. The new swing seat battle between Democratic state Rep. Yadira Caraveo and GOP state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer leans to the GOP.

It’s the kind of seat Democrats would have to win to have a chance of holding control of the House.

Pelosi said diverse Democratic candidates like Neguse and Caraveo, who would be the first Latina to serve in Congress from Colorado, are key assets for the party.

Yadira Caraveo

Political insiders say Republicans are still heavy favorites to retake the House. To do so, the GOP need to flip fewer than 10 seats, and they picked up several safe seats in the redistricting wars from coast to coast.

Historically, the sitting president’s party usually loses a significant number of House seats in its first midterm election.

Democrats believe they can beat that trend because the overall political climate has shifted in their favor in recent months, particularly since the conservative Supreme Court rolled back abortion rights in June.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. (at podium) with U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo. (left) on Aug. 31, 2022, in Boulder, Colo. (David Zalubowski/)

President Biden has also scored a series of political wins, including passage of his long-stalled Inflation Reduction Act package, which includes climate change spending and a plan to reduce prescription drug costs.

Since that decision, pro-choice Democrats have outperformed expectations in a string of special elections, which are often seen as bellwethers of the political climate. Among those results, Rep.-elect Pat Ryan pulled off an upset win in Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado’s old 19th District seat, and Democrat Mary Peltola beat the GOP’s Sarah Palin for Alaska’s at-large seat.