Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Democrats must win in the November midterm elections.
"Civilization as we know it today is at risk in this election," Pelosi told Rolling Stone. "We have to win. We have to win."
The congresswoman said Democrats would win if the election were held today. However, she said the races are all close.
"People say, 'Is it a wave? Is it a tsunami?' Well, it's a lot of droplets that make up a wave or a tsunami," Pelosi said.
"I don't want people to think that there's a wave coming so that they don't have to work very hard in every single district," she added.
Pelosi is facing some resistance to her leadership role in the Democratic Party. At least 20 Democrats have publicly said they would not support her becoming House speaker if they win the majority in the House of Representatives, The Washington Free Beacon reported.