Nancy Pelosi has announced her retirement from Congress, bringing to a close a decades-long career that saw the California Democrat rise to become one of the most influential figures in U.S. politics.
In a video message released Thursday, Pelosi stated she would not seek re-election to Congress when her current term concludes in January 2027.
The announcement marks the end of a distinguished political career. Pelosi, 85, became the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House and led her party in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2023.
“We have made history, we have made progress,” Pelosi stated in her message.
“We have always led the way, and now we must continue to do so by remaining full participants in our democracy, and fighting for the American ideals we hold dear.”
“As we go forward, my message to the city I love is this: San Francisco, know your power,” Pelosi added.
Pelosi was first elected to Congress to represent San Francisco in 1987 at the age of 47 and quickly ascended through the ranks.
She was elected Speaker of the House by her party in 2007, becoming the first woman to hold the position. She served until 2011, when Democrats lost control of the House, before returning to the speakership from 2019 to 2023.
The Speaker of the House is the only congressional position specifically outlined in the U.S. Constitution. After the Vice President, the Speaker is next in the line of succession to the presidency.
In that role, Pelosi played a pivotal role in advancing – and at times thwarting – the agendas of multiple presidents during her tenure on Capitol Hill.
She is widely credited with successfully guiding former President Barack Obama’s landmark healthcare legislation through Congress, as well as infrastructure and climate change bills during President Joe Biden’s administration.
Pelosi also directly challenged Donald Trump throughout his presidency, memorably tearing up a copy of his State of the Union address.
She also became a focal point for Republican opposition, embodying, in their view, coastal elites pushing a radical, big-spending agenda.
She spearheaded two impeachment efforts against Trump, the first in 2019 concerning his dealings with Ukraine. Trump was accused of pressuring Ukraine to investigate Biden and of using military aid as leverage. He was later acquitted in the Republican-controlled Senate.
The second impeachment occurred in 2021, when the House accused him of inciting the January 6th storming of the U.S. Capitol with a speech to supporters outside the White House. That effort also failed, and Trump was acquitted again.
On Thursday, when questioned about Pelosi’s retirement, Trump characterized her as “an evil woman.”
“I’m glad she’s retiring. I think she did the country a great service by retiring,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “I think she was a tremendous liability for the country.”
Following Trump’s first term, Pelosi collaborated with Biden to navigate much of his legislative agenda through the House, despite the narrow Democratic majority.
Within two years, House Democrats passed a Covid relief bill, a bipartisan infrastructure spending package, a multi-trillion-dollar environment and social spending program, and legislation to protect same-sex marriage.
Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York succeeded her as Democratic leader in the House in 2022.
Since relinquishing the speakership, she has continued to wield significant political influence. Most recently, she played a crucial role in the passage of Proposition 50 in California, a state redistricting initiative aimed at potentially flipping five House seats to Democrats during the 2026 midterms.
Sean Dunn’s attorney acknowledged he threw the sandwich, but argued it was a “harmless gesture”.
Several of the busiest hubs will be affected from airports in Atlanta to New York and Los Angeles.
US President Donald Trump announces agreements with drug makers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.
Flight capacity will be cut at major airports as air traffic controllers report issues with fatigue amid staff shortages.
Abigail Zwerner sued a school administrator, claiming they had ignored a warning about the gun.