Online petition urging Ayanna Pressley to run for Speaker of the House gathers over 136.5 thousand signatures

The petition has gathered over 136.5 thousand signatures

An online petition urging Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley to run for Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives has collected more than 136,566 signatures as of 18:20 GMT on Sunday. The Anadolu Agency reports this, citing the campaign page on the Change.org platform. The organizers call on lawmakers and citizens to support the Massachusetts Democrat for the chamber's top post, describing her as a beacon of hope and decency in a turbulent political landscape.

The campaign's arguments and Pressley's plans

The petition's authors highlight Pressley's track record on affordable housing, healthcare, criminal justice reform, and climate policy — dating back to when she became the first woman of color to represent Massachusetts in Congress. In their view, her pioneering spirit and unwavering resolve would help advance bipartisan legislation. Against the backdrop of this campaign, Pressley announced a town hall in East Boston on Monday at 18:30 local time (23:30 GMT), together with State Senator Lydia Edwards, to discuss the legislative priorities of a future Democratic majority following recent midterm election victories.

Who is actually vying for the Speaker's post

For now, the only declared candidate for Speaker remains House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Pressley has not publicly said whether she intends to challenge him for the post. If Jeffries is elected, he will become the first Black Speaker of the House; the same historic milestone awaits Pressley if she enters the race and wins. Thus, the petition reflects public pressure but does not constitute a candidacy: the question of her participation remains open.