Nancy Pelosi, First Female US House Speaker, Announces Retirement

Marrakech – Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the US House of Representatives, announced Thursday she will not seek reelection to Congress. The 85-year-old California Democrat will complete her current term, which ends in January 2027.

“I will not be seeking reelection to Congress,” Pelosi said in a video message addressed to her San Francisco constituents. “With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative.”

Pelosi’s announcement marks the end of a storied political career spanning nearly four decades. First elected to Congress in 1987 at age 47, she rose through Democratic ranks to become the first female House Speaker in 2007.

She held the speakership twice – from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023. As Speaker, Pelosi was second in line to the presidency, after the vice president.

“We have made history, we have made progress,” Pelosi said in her retirement message. “As we go forward, my message to the city I love is this: San Francisco, know your power.”

During her tenure, Pelosi played crucial roles in advancing major legislation. She helped marshal the passage of President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act in 2010, widely considered her greatest legislative achievement. Under President Joe Biden, she shepherded infrastructure and climate change bills through the House.

Pelosi also directly challenged Donald Trump throughout his first term and current presidency. She famously ripped up a copy of his State of the Union address in 2020 and led two impeachment efforts against him – the first in 2019 over his dealings with Ukraine and the second in 2021 following the January 6 Capitol riot.

In 2022, Pelosi stepped down from House leadership, allowing New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries to succeed her as Democratic leader. She continued serving in Congress with the honorary title of “speaker emerita.”

Even after leaving leadership, Pelosi remained influential in Democratic politics. She reportedly played a key role in pushing President Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race after his debate performance against Trump, allowing Kamala Harris to take his place.

Her announcement came days after Californians approved Proposition 50, a redistricting measure she supported. The initiative enables state leaders to temporarily redraw congressional lines to favor Democrats in an effort to counter Trump’s moves to shore up House seats in Texas and other Republican states ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Pelosi had refused to engage in speculation about her future until after Tuesday’s Election Day vote.

For Republicans, Pelosi often symbolized what they saw as coastal elitism. She was a frequent target in GOP campaign ads and faced harsh criticism from Trump, who often referred to her as “crazy Nancy.”

In October 2022, an assailant broke into Pelosi’s San Francisco home and attacked her husband, Paul, with a hammer, fracturing his skull. The attack reflected the increasing political violence in America.

Throughout her career, Pelosi was known for her legislative acumen and ability to unify her caucus on difficult votes. President Biden once described her as “the most consequential speaker of the House of Representatives in our history.”

Earlier this year, Pelosi received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor. In a recent CNN interview, when asked about running for Congress again, she confidently stated, “I have no doubt that if I decided to run, I would win.”

Pelosi’s departure will trigger a competitive race for her San Francisco seat. Two Democrats have already entered the contest – Saikat Chakrabarti, a former chief of staff to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and state senator Scott Wiener.