Nancy Pelosi Announces Retirement, Ending Decades-long Career in US Congress

Nancy Pelosi has announced her retirement from Congress, marking the close of a groundbreaking political career that spanned more than three decades and reshaped the contours of American politics.

In a video message released on Thursday, the 85-year-old California Democrat said she would not seek re-election when her current term ends in January 2027.

“As we go forward, my message to the city I love is this: San Francisco, know your power,” Pelosi said in her address. “We have made history, we have made progress. We have always led the way, and now we must continue to do so by remaining full participants in our democracy, and fighting for the American ideals we hold dear.”

Pelosi’s announcement brought an official end to one of the most consequential careers in modern US politics. Elected to Congress in 1987, she rose through the ranks to become the first woman ever to serve as Speaker of the House, a position she held from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023.

Over her years in leadership, Pelosi became known for her political acumen, legislative toughness, and ability to unify her caucus during some of the nation’s most turbulent moments — including the passage of the Affordable Care Act under President Barack Obama and the two impeachments of President Donald Trump.

Her retirement marked the end of an era for Democrats in Congress and for her home city of San Francisco, whose liberal politics she helped define on the national stage.

While Pelosi did not specify what her post-congressional plans will be, her parting message underscored a commitment to civic engagement and the enduring influence of her hometown.

“We have made history,” she said, “and now we must continue to do so.”

By Nafisat Abdulrahman

Nancy Pelosi has announced her retirement from Congress, marking the close of a groundbreaking political career that spanned more than three decades and reshaped the contours of American politics.

In a video message released on Thursday, the 85-year-old California Democrat said she would not seek re-election when her current term ends in January 2027.

“As we go forward, my message to the city I love is this: San Francisco, know your power,” Pelosi said in her address. “We have made history, we have made progress. We have always led the way, and now we must continue to do so by remaining full participants in our democracy, and fighting for the American ideals we hold dear.”

Pelosi’s announcement brought an official end to one of the most consequential careers in modern US politics. Elected to Congress in 1987, she rose through the ranks to become the first woman ever to serve as Speaker of the House, a position she held from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023.

Over her years in leadership, Pelosi became known for her political acumen, legislative toughness, and ability to unify her caucus during some of the nation’s most turbulent moments — including the passage of the Affordable Care Act under President Barack Obama and the two impeachments of President Donald Trump.

Her retirement marked the end of an era for Democrats in Congress and for her home city of San Francisco, whose liberal politics she helped define on the national stage.

While Pelosi did not specify what her post-congressional plans will be, her parting message underscored a commitment to civic engagement and the enduring influence of her hometown.

“We have made history,” she said, “and now we must continue to do so.”