Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as speaker of the United States House of Representatives, announced on Thursday that she will not seek re-election and will retire from Congress at the end of her current term in early 2027.
The 85-year-old Democrat, who has represented San Francisco since 1987, made the announcement in a video message paying tribute to her hometown.
Pelosi served as House speaker from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023, becoming one of the most influential figures in the modern Democratic Party.
Pelosi played a pivotal role in passing major legislation, including former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act in 2010.
During President Joe Biden’s term, she helped advance a massive COVID-19 relief package, $1.2 trillion in infrastructure spending, and other key bills despite narrow margins.
She stepped down from Democratic House leadership in 2022, enabling Congressman Hakeem Jeffries to become minority leader.
Pelosi retains the honorary title of speaker emerita and has continued to wield influence within the party.
As a leading opponent during Donald Trump’s presidency, Pelosi led two impeachment efforts against him and famously tore up his 2020 State of the Union address on the podium.
She managed internal party divisions amid rising progressive voices while facing criticism from both left-wing members for centrist leanings and from conservatives for liberal policies.
Pelosi has been a prolific stock trader, prompting ethical concerns and a Republican-proposed ban on congressional trading, which she supported in July.
On foreign policy, she opposed the 2003 Iraq war, supported Ukraine, visited Taiwan in 2022, and expressed strong commitment to Israel.
In 2022, her husband, Paul Pelosi, was assaulted in their San Francisco home.
Dozens of Democratic lawmakers praised her on Thursday as a historic and transformational leader.