Too Old, Too White and Too Stretched

Pelosi Will Remain Democratic Leader in House; Few Changes in Leadership

As her staff tried repeatedly to prevent reporters from asking more than a few questions, an animated Ms. Pelosi seemed to enjoy her moment, saying she would use the next two years to help elect more women and to fight the role of money in politics. She became visibly exercised when a reporter suggested that the age of the slate of Democratic leaders — all are over 70 — was preventing younger leaders from advancing in the party.

“You’ve always asked that question except to Mitch McConnell,” Ms. Pelosi said, referring to the Senate Republican leader, who is 70, as a group of women behind her booed and yelled, “Age discrimination!” “Let’s for a moment honor it as a legitimate question, although it’s quite offensive, though you don’t realize it, I guess,” she added before answering: “No.”