Nancy Pelosi Announces Retirement, Ending Decades-Long Political Career
ESSENSI.CO – Nancy Pelosi has announced her decision to retire from Congress, marking the end of a political career spanning several decades that made her one of the most influential figures in U.S. politics. The Democratic lawmaker from California said in a video message on Thursday that she would not seek re-election when her current term expires in January 2027.
Pelosi, 85, made history as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, leading her party in the chamber from 2003 to 2023.
“We have made history, we have made progress,” she said in her address. “As we move forward, my message to the city I love is this: San Francisco, know your power.”
First elected in 1987 to represent San Francisco, Pelosi quickly rose through the Democratic ranks. She became Speaker in 2007 the first woman ever to hold the role and served until 2011 before reclaiming the gavel from 2019 to 2023. As Speaker, Pelosi played a central role in shaping or blocking presidential agendas, from Barack Obama’s healthcare reform to Joe Biden’s infrastructure and climate initiatives.
A fierce critic of Donald Trump, Pelosi led two impeachment proceedings against him first in 2019 over allegations he pressured Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, and again in 2021 for inciting the January 6 Capitol riot. Trump, responding to her retirement announcement, called Pelosi a “nasty woman” and said her departure was “a great thing for the country.”
Following Trump’s presidency, Pelosi worked closely with President Biden to push major legislative victories through a narrowly divided House, including Covid-19 relief, a bipartisan infrastructure package, and protections for same-sex marriage.
Although she handed over Democratic leadership in the House to New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries in 2022, Pelosi remains an influential figure. Recently, she helped secure the passage of California’s Proposition 50, a redistricting initiative aimed at giving Democrats five additional House seats in the 2026 midterm elections.
