Nancy Pelosi Announces Retirement from Congress After Nearly Four Decades in Washington

Nancy Pelosi, the first and only woman to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, announced Thursday she will not seek reelection, closing out nearly four decades in Congress. The 85-year-old San Francisco Democrat made the announcement in a video message to her constituents, calling her decision a “love letter” to the city she has represented since 1987.

“I have truly loved serving as your voice in Congress,” Pelosi said. “I will not be seeking reelection to Congress. With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative.”

Her announcement ends speculation that Pelosi would retire after her current term, her first in decades without a leadership role. She remains the only woman to have ever wielded the Speaker’s gavel, leading House Democrats through some of the most turbulent political eras in modern history.

Pelosi’s tenure saw landmark legislative achievements, including her central role in passing the Affordable Care Act and major pandemic recovery packages. She presided over two impeachments of Donald Trump, stood at the forefront of the Democratic opposition to his presidency, and maintained near-total control over her caucus during her years in leadership.

Her legacy extends beyond policy. Raised in Baltimore’s Little Italy in a political family, Pelosi became known for her tough negotiating style and deep understanding of the legislative process. She made history in 2007 as the first woman elected Speaker and again in 2019 when she regained the position, becoming the first in six decades to hold nonconsecutive terms.

Pelosi also helped shape the modern Democratic Party, steering it toward progressive social policies while maintaining her reputation as a pragmatic dealmaker. Her career was marked by defining moments, including her dramatic tearing of Trump’s State of the Union speech and her leadership during the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

President Joe Biden, who awarded Pelosi the Presidential Medal of Freedom, called her “the best Speaker of the House in American history.”

Her retirement comes two years after her husband, Paul Pelosi, was violently attacked in their San Francisco home—an event that she said weighed heavily on her decision to step back from public life.

As Pelosi prepares to leave office, she reflected on her time representing San Francisco and the power of civic engagement: “We have made history. We have made progress. We have always led the way,” she said. “And now we must continue to do so by remaining full participants in our democracy.”

Credit: CNN Newsource

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