After 40 years of service, House Rep. Nancy Pelosi announced she will not seek re-election and will retire from Congress at the end of her current term.
Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, leaves behind a legacy of groundbreaking leadership, landmark legislation and fierce political determination.
A defining legacy
Pelosi’s career spanned from her election to Congress in 1987 to her departure announcement in November 2025. Under her speakership, the House passed major initiatives such as the Affordable Care Act, and she guided the chamber through deeply turbulent times — including the pandemic, impeachment proceedings and national debates over democracy itself.
Pelosi also played a pivotal role in elevating women’s representation in Congress and in reshaping the Democratic Party’s identity and operations.
Outpouring of praise
California’s Governor Gavin Newsom called her retirement “a standard for what public service should be,” saying,
“Nancy Pelosi has inspired generations. Her courage and conviction to San Francisco, California, and our nation has set the standard for what public service should be. Her impact on this nation is unmatched. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Wishing you the best in this new chapter—you’ve more than earned it.”
Senator Adam Schiff described her as “the greatest Speaker in American history,” noting how her work delivered affordable health care to millions and pulled the economy back from the brink.
President Obama wrote: “She made us proud to be Democrats, and will go down in history as one of the best speakers the House of Representatives has ever had.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised her “fierce leadership” through a once-in-a-century pandemic and the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
An icon of American politics
Pelosi’s departure marks more than just the end of a congressional career — it signals the close of a chapter in modern American politics. From San Francisco to the Speaker’s gavel, she transformed perceptions of what power could look like and who could wield it.
In her own words to her constituents:
“With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative.”
As one California leader put it:
“Her example is a guiding light to me and millions of others as we face the extreme challenges ahead.”
What comes next
Pelosi’s retirement opens up her San Francisco district and gives new figures in the Democratic Party the chance to step into the vacuum. A generational hand-off is being openly discussed even as her influence continues behind the scenes.