Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi told North Carolina Democrats on Saturday that elections were “not about rewarding you for what you have done,” but “about what you’re going to do next.”
As Pelosi blasted former President Donald Trump — addressing him just as “what’s his name” — and Republicans, she lauded the state’s elected Democrats. And as she touted the party’s accomplishments in Washington, she urged them not to rest on their laurels ahead of November.
“This is about what comes next, and what comes next is very important for our country,” she said.
Pelosi’s remarks at the annual Unity Dinner come as she and other top Democratic elected officials, donors and operatives battle over the party’s presidential ticket.
She has reportedly told President Joe Biden she thinks he cannot win in November; endorsed an “open” nomination process in private discussions; and fielded calls with vulnerable House members who worry Biden could hurt their chances of victory down the ballot. She has not openly called for Biden to step aside as the party nominee.
Pelosi, who was the first woman to lead the U.S. House, made her own decision in November 2022 to step down from party leadership.
In her roughly half-hour speech, Pelosi said the president’s name only sparsely, and primarily in reference to his role in passing legislative priorities.
She reserved her most fervent praise for North Carolina’s Democrats, including gubernatorial candidate and Attorney General Josh Stein and Gov. Roy Cooper, who both also spoke.
In contrast, Pelosi sharply criticized Trump and his GOP allies, spending significant time on the Heritage Foundation-authored “ Project 2025” agenda.
“They don’t believe in science, they don’t believe in governance, they don’t believe in justice,” Pelosi said. “They believe in this goofy plan.”
As she concluded her speech, the former speaker urged Democrats to mobilize across the state and communicate the party’s message. She also sketched out “three ‘no’s.”
“No wasted time, no underutilized resources and no regrets the day after the election,” said Pelosi.
Biden has repeatedly said he intends to stay in the race. Currently sidelined in Delaware with COVID-19, he said in a Friday evening statement that he “looks forward to getting back on the campaign trail next week.”
While the top levels of the party feuds over Biden’s candidacy, his campaign has continued to hold events in North Carolina.
Vice President Kamala Harris — who has emerged as the most likely successor to Biden if he steps aside — spoke in both Fayetteville and Greensboro within a week. Her speeches made no mention of the ongoing party infighting, instead focusing on former President Donald Trump, his running mate U.S. Sen. JD Vance and their policy agenda.
Ahead of the dinner, the North Carolina Republican Party mocked its title while touting widespread support of their presidential nominee.
“If this is ‘Unity’ for them I can’t imagine what it looks like when they’re divided,” NC GOP communications director Matt Mercer said in a statement. “On the other hand, Republicans are more unified than ever behind President Donald J. Trump, Senator JD Vance, and Republicans up and down the ballot.”
North Carolina’s governor and the Democrat running to succeed him both rallied attendees to prepare for a tough race, while castigating the GOP nominee — Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson — as divisive and dangerous.
Cooper tied Robinson to Trump, saying workers would “get the shaft” under their leadership and abortion would be banned. And Stein called him a “conspiracy theorist” who “says the most awful things about other people.”
Cooper’s name has been floated in political circles as one possibility to serve as Harris’ running mate in the event that Biden drops out. But he praised the current ticket in his remarks Saturday.
“They are all in on North Carolina,” Cooper said.
Over 900 people attended Saturday’s event. Outside the convention center, around two dozen pro-Palestinian protesters gathered. U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna of California spoke briefly to the group, according to a video posted to his social media.
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