As the 2024 elections approach, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi remains steadfast in her belief that Vice President Kamala Harris will achieve victory, as long as Democrats crowd the polls.
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“The voices are there for us; “We just have to get them out,” she predicted during a wide-ranging interview with The Advocate.
Amid her cautious optimism, Pelosi is deeply concerned about the Republican Party’s growing influence, which she sees as a troubling shift toward extremist rhetoric and actions, from health care repeal to Christian nationalism, anti-LGBTQ policies, hate speech, and widespread attacks on democratic principles.
While discussing the upcoming election, Pelosi saw news about House Speaker Mike Johnson’s pledge to “dismantle the Affordable Care Act within the first 100 days” if Republicans win. Pelosi, who helped turn the Affordable Care Act into law more than a decade ago, reacted immediately and was outraged by Johnson’s statement. “This is an unconscionable attack on the millions of Americans who rely on the Affordable Care Act for basic health coverage,” she said.
For Pelosi, the Affordable Care Act represents a milestone in the fight for health care equity, and she warns that repealing it would harm countless individuals, especially those with pre-existing conditions who could face denial or higher insurance premiums.
“The ACA is very popular, so I can’t see how saying something like that before the election could help Republicans,” she noted.
“It is reckless and short-sighted,” Pelosi said firmly. “The ACA has saved lives and expanded access to care for marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ+ community, who have historically faced health care disparities.”
Pelosi also raised concerns about how the repeal would affect women’s health services, mental health supports, and addiction treatment — all critical services expanded under the ACA. “To rule this out would be disastrous, especially at a time when many are still recovering from the lasting effects of the pandemic,” she said.
The former House Speaker said she sees the LGBTQ+ community as a growing target of growing hatred, and she recently heard firsthand a story that proved her point.
“I was at an event on Tuesday and spoke with a couple from San Francisco who faced insults at the New York airport by Trump supporters who were traveling to the Madison Square Garden rally,” Pelosi said. “Imagine two men minding their own business being harassed because of who they are. This is the America that Trump has strengthened, where hate speech is not only normalized, but rewarded.
And the LGBTQ+ hate hit close to home in the form of conspiracy theories surrounding her family. This week, David DeBape was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for breaking into the San Francisco home of Pelosi and her husband. DePape told authorities he was pursuing the former Speaker. Belso was not home at the time and attacked her husband, Paul, who was seriously injured. Then, right-wingers falsely accused Pelosi’s husband of secretly having an affair with Debab.
“It was a Monday a year ago when my husband was attacked,” Pelosi recalled. “Yesterday, his attacker was sentenced, and it was a very good decision. But do you remember what they did after the attack? They went on TV and said my husband and his attacker were gay lovers and all that stuff. Of course, it’s ridiculous, but it made it sound like you were a gay lover.” It was so disgusting and so awful in what was and still is a very difficult time for our family.
Pelosi added that she believes such incidents reveal the real-world effects of Donald Trump’s rhetoric, which she says empowers individuals to act on bias openly.
Pelosi, a devout Catholic, is also concerned about the rise of Christian nationalism and what she sees as a distortion of religious values. She warns that the movement often uses religion as a weapon against marginalized groups.
“There is nothing truly Christian about this nationalism. “It is frightening and un-Christian to use religion to justify exclusion and hatred,” she said. “These ideologies endanger democratic values, and this rhetoric obscures their divisive goals, urging voters to see what is merely a façade.”
Referring to former President Donald Trump, Pelosi said: “This presidential candidate has normalized hate speech, and is responsible for a nationwide shift toward discriminatory language. It’s also local, and humorous. Hate has become normal, and people act on it without shame or accountability.”
On the positive side, Pelosi praised Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as a great alternative to Harris. She pointed out that he “has knowledge, vision and values and embodies the party’s aspirations for a united America.” “It is encouraging to see him speaking out about the issues in a compelling and hopeful way.”
Pelosi also finds common ground with former Republican US Rep. Liz Cheney, who recently warned that Johnson may not act impartially if Trump loses the election. Pelosi echoes Cheney’s sentiments, asserting that Johnson’s loyalty to Trump raises concerns about his commitment to democracy.
Both Cheney and Pelosi worry that Johnson, an outspoken supporter of Trump’s “big lie” about his 2020 election loss, will try to undermine the electoral process to Trump’s advantage.
“We have to take it seriously,” Pelosi urged. “Johnson’s actions may go beyond rhetoric to jeopardize the integrity of the electoral process. This election could determine the future of our nation.”
She sees Johnson’s position as a potential “Trojan horse” for anti-democratic measures, which she fears will erode Americans’ trust in democratic institutions.
“When someone shows you, over and over again, that they’re going to prioritize party over Democratic principles, that’s not someone who’s going to honor their oath,” said Pelosi, who is confident Democrats can take back the House. “That is why it is imperative that Hakeem Jeffries be handed the gavel as Speaker of the House on January 3, 2025.”
For Pelosi, the future of American democracy is at stake more than ever. She stressed the importance of voting, saying: “The votes are there; We just have to get them out. “Our job is to mobilize and vote, and to do so in a principled and effective way.”
