Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPowell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy Overnight Defense: House to vote on military justice bill spurred by Vanessa Guillén death | Biden courts veterans after Trump's military controversies Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings MORE (D-Calif.) on Thursday expressed optimism that the U.S. will eventually elect a female president, despite it being virtually certain that the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee will be a man after Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenNo new taxes for the ultra rich — fix bad tax policy instead Democrats back away from quick reversal of Trump tax cuts It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates MORE (D-Mass.) withdrew from the race earlier in the day.



Pelosi acknowledged that it won't be this year given the likely choice between the major parties of President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE and either former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenThe Memo: Warning signs flash for Trump on debates Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden National postal mail handlers union endorses Biden MORE or Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll Schumer, Sanders call for Senate panel to address election security MORE (I-Vt.), but maintained that women are making "progress" following the record number of women elected to the House in 2018 and Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Virginia Democrat blasts Trump's 'appalling' remark about COVID-19 deaths in 'blue states' The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally MORE becoming the Democratic nominee four years ago.



"We'll have a woman president. I know we will. I don't know who it is quite yet," Pelosi, the only woman to serve as Speaker to date, said at an event at the Georgetown University Institute of Politics and Public Service moderated by SiriusXM's Julie Mason.



The Democratic presidential field at one point included six women: Warren, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Tulsi GabbardRepublicans call on DOJ to investigate Netflix over 'Cuties' film Hispanic Caucus campaign arm endorses slate of non-Hispanic candidates Gabbard says she 'was not invited to participate in any way' in Democratic convention MORE (Hawaii), author Marianne Williamson Marianne WilliamsonMarianne Williamson discusses speaking at People's Party Convention Fewer people watched opening night of Democratic convention compared to 2016 Marianne Williamson: Democratic convention 'like binge watching a Marriott commercial' MORE, and Sens. Amy Klobuchar Amy KlobucharEPA delivers win for ethanol industry angered by waivers to refiners It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates Biden marks anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, knocks Trump and McConnell MORE (Minn.), Kirsten Gillibrand Kirsten GillibrandSuburban moms are going to decide the 2020 election Jon Stewart urges Congress to help veterans exposed to burn pits The Hill's Campaign Report: 19 years since 9/11 | Dem rival to Marjorie Taylor Greene drops out | Collin Peterson faces fight of his career | Court delivers blow to ex-felon voting rights in Florida MORE (N.Y.) and Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisNational postal mail handlers union endorses Biden The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally Jim Carrey to play Biden on 'Saturday Night Live' MORE (Calif.).

Gabbard is the only female candidate who has still not exited the race, but her candidacy remains a long shot and polls in the single digits.

Pelosi suggested that the size of the primary field may have contributed to the female candidates having difficulty consolidating enough support to break through to the top of the pack.

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"This time, the field was so big, the support so spread, perhaps if there hadn't been so many different candidates then a focus on one or two to begin with ... would have been different," Pelosi said.

"But there were a lot of men who didn't make the cut either," Pelosi added.

She suggested that fewer women seem to either promote themselves as potential presidential material or have supporters urging them to run compared to men.



"I haven't necessarily seen that around women. Hillary, yes," she said.



She also took the opportunity to give advice to the assembled Georgetown University students in the audience who might consider running for public office themselves.



"Just build your confidence, but also take stock of what you have to offer, whether you're running for office or running for president."

Earlier Thursday, Pelosi said that an “element of misogyny” undermines female presidential candidates like Warren.

"I do think there's a certain element of misogyny that is there and some of it isn't really mean spirited. It just isn't their experience," Pelosi said at a press conference in the Capitol.

"Many of them will tell you they had a strong mom, they have strong sisters, they have strong daughters. But they have their own insecurities, I guess you would say," she added.