By From Wire Reports

Published: Tuesday, November 13, 2012, 7:24 p.m.
Updated: Tuesday, November 13, 2012

WASHINGTON — Nancy Pelosi, who served as the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2007 through 2010, will announce on Wednesday whether she will seek another term as the chamber's Democratic minority leader.

“I will see you 10 a.m., tomorrow, those of you who are interested,” Pelosi told reporters at the Capitol on Tuesday when asked if she wants to continue to head her party in the House next year.

Pelosi, a leading liberal, has been minority leader for the past two years.

Her four-year reign as House speaker came to an end shortly after the 2010 elections that saw Republicans take the chamber and subsequently elect John Boehner as speaker.

Senior Pelosi aides said it remains unclear what she would do. “House Democrats are waiting to hear,” said Rep. Steve Israel, head of the House Democratic campaign committee.

Israel and Pelosi helped House Democrats post a net gain of a half-dozen seats in last week's elections. But they fell short of the needed 25 to take control of the chamber.

If Pelosi decides to seek another two-year term as House Democratic leader, she is virtually guaranteed that members will give it to her, Democratic aides and lawmakers said.

If Pelosi, 72, decides to step down, she is likely to be replaced by the chamber's No. 2 Democrat, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer.

Some financial market analysts have been anxiously awaiting Pelosi's decision.

Analysts have said if Hoyer, who is seen as a moderate, were to become Democratic leader, it could become easier to reach a deal to cut entitlement programs, a key to reaching a bipartisan agreement on long-sought deficit reduction.

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