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Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the trailblazing Democrat who made history as the first woman to lead the chamber and one of the most powerful figures in modern American politics, said Thursday she will not seek re-election in 2026, ending a congressional career that spanned nearly four decades.
“I will not be seeking re-election to Congress. With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative,” Pelosi, 85, said in a video message to San Francisco voters. The announcement was paired with sweeping imagery of the city’s skyline and landmarks, along with archival photos of her political journey.
Pelosi’s decision caps a historic career that saw her rise from California party organizer to become one of the most consequential House leaders in history. Over two decades as Democratic leader, she helped deliver landmark legislation under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden — including the Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act — and served as the central counterweight to Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump.
NBC News reported earlier this week that this announcement was imminent.
A Career That Defined Generations of Power
First elected to Congress in 1987, Pelosi steadily rose through the ranks, chairing the California Democratic Party and earning a reputation as a formidable fundraiser and vote counter. She made history in 2002 when Democrats chose her as minority leader, and again in 2006 when she became the first female speaker of the House.
Pelosi wielded power with discipline and precision, often describing her motivation as acting “for the children” — a phrase she used to define legislative goals on health care, education and climate change. Her speakerships were marked by both historic victories and deep partisan clashes.
After Democrats’ 2006 midterm win, Pelosi helped shepherd through major legislation, culminating in the passage of Obamacare under Obama in 2010. Even after losing the majority that year, she defied precedent by staying on as minority leader, keeping the caucus united through a turbulent decade.
Her decision to stay proved pivotal after Trump’s 2016 victory, when she led the Democratic opposition and reclaimed the speakership following the 2018 midterms — the first lawmaker since Sam Rayburn in 1955 to regain the gavel.
Defining Battles and Public Clashes
Pelosi’s tenure was defined by historic and often dramatic confrontations with Trump. The two sparred in televised Oval Office meetings, and she famously tore up Trump’s 2020 State of the Union address on national television. “I eat nails for breakfast,” Pelosi once quipped when asked about their relationship.
She twice led the House in impeaching Trump — first over the Ukraine pressure scandal in 2019, and again after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Both times, the Senate acquitted him.
In Biden’s first two years, Pelosi steered passage of a massive COVID-19 relief package and the climate-focused Inflation Reduction Act. But relations cooled after she pressed the 81-year-old president to bow out of his 2024 re-election bid against Trump.
A Legacy and a Turning Point
Pelosi’s decision to retire follows the passage of California’s Proposition 50, a redistricting measure backed by state Democrats. She had said she would weigh her political future based on the outcome. With its approval, she said, “it is time to pass the torch.”
Her retirement will trigger a competitive race for her deep-blue San Francisco district — a rarity in a seat she has held safely since 1987. Already, state Sen. Scott Wiener and former tech executive Saikat Chakrabarti, a co-founder of Justice Democrats, have announced bids to succeed her.
“Nancy Pelosi is an iconic, legendary, transformational figure who has done so many things over so many years to make life better for so many people,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said.
Born Nancy D’Alesandro in Baltimore in 1940, Pelosi grew up in a political family — her father and brother both served as mayors of Baltimore. She entered Congress at age 47, a mother of five, following the death of Rep. Sala Burton, and quickly became a powerhouse fundraiser and strategist.
In 2022, after Democrats lost the House majority, Pelosi and her longtime deputies — Steny Hoyer of Maryland and Jim Clyburn of South Carolina — stepped aside, handing the reins to a new generation led by Jeffries, Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar. Pelosi remained in Congress as “speaker emerita,” advising younger lawmakers and continuing to raise millions for Democratic campaigns.
Her departure, following nearly four decades in office, closes one of the most consequential chapters in congressional history — and leaves Democrats facing a generational shift in leadership at a time of renewed political upheaval.
