Former House Speaker Pelosi's (D-Calif.) retirement announcement is touching off a new round of debate about the congressional Democrats in their 70s and 80s who are resisting calls to retire.

Why it matters: Pelosi, 85, was one of dozens of older House Democrats being challenged by a younger primary challenger in what could have proved to be an expensive intra-party battle. • More than half a dozen insurgent Democratic primary challengers raised more money between July and September than the elderly incumbents they are challenging. • Some in the party fear that these expensive primaries, all in safe blue seats, will draw attention and resources away from their fight to retake Congress.

State of play: After Pelosi's announcement Thursday, several Democratic insurgents challenging old

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