Nancy Pelosi announced that she is retiring from Congress, ending a decades-long career that saw the California Democrat become one of the most powerful figures in American politics.
Speaker Pelosi announced in a video message Thursday that she would not seek re-election to Congress when her term ends in January 2027.
This marks the end of a celebrated political career. Pelosi, 85, became the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House and led her party in the House from 2003 to 2023.
“We have made history and we have made progress,” Pelosi said in a message.
“We have always led the way, and now we must remain full participants in our democracy and fight for the American ideals we hold dear.”
“As we move forward, my message to the city I love is this: San Francisco, know your strength,” Pelosi added.
Pelosi was first elected Speaker of the House from her party in 2007, becoming the first woman to hold that role. She served until 2011, when Democrats lost control of the House, and returned as speaker from 2019 to 2023.
The Speaker of the House is the only office in Congress specified in the U.S. Constitution. The presidency is next in line to the vice president.
In that role, Pelosi played a key role in advancing or thwarting the agendas of several presidents during her long career on Capitol Hill.
She is widely recognized for leading the passage of former President Barack Obama’s landmark health care bill and current President Joe Biden’s legislation to address infrastructure and climate change.
Pelosi has also directly challenged Donald Trump throughout his presidency, famously tearing up copies of his State of the Union address behind his back.
By then, she had also been a lightning rod for Republican ire. In their eyes, it represented a coastal elite that promoted massive spending and a radical platform.
