Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, has announced her retirement from politics.
The 85-year-old, who was first elected to Congress in 1987 during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, said she would not be standing for re-election in her California district in 2026.
As the first female speaker of the House, Mrs Pelosi ushered landmark legislation through Congress, and was widely seen to have ended the political career of Joe Biden during the 2024 presidential election.
“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,” she said in a video message released on Thursday.
Mrs Pelosi, a lifelong Catholic told constituents in San Francisco said she had “loved serving as your voice in Congress” and quoted St Francis of Assisi: “Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.”
She went on to describe her election as the first female speaker of the House as a historic moment, and said she had secured billions of dollars for San Francisco and California during her time in office.
She made the announcement after California voters passed “Proposition 50”, a ballot measure she campaigned for which is expected to give Democrats five extra seats in the House ahead of the 2026 mid-terms.
The Democrat grandee will remain a hugely influential figure long after she leaves Congress. But, she has not announced what her next moves are, if any.
Mrs Pelosi led her party in the House for 20 years, from 2002 to 2022. She is credited with marshalling votes to pass landmark legislation such as the Affordable Care Act under Barack Obama, along with massive spending projects during Mr Biden’s administration.
Mrs Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi – ANGELA WEISS
She is widely understood to have leveraged her supporters to put pressure on Mr Biden during his faltering campaign before he pulled out of the 2024.
The former president is reported to have a grudging respect for Mrs Pelosi, regarding her as a “ruthless” operator. She played up to that reputation, often saying: “I eat nails for breakfast.”
Despite her intervention, she was considered one of Mr Biden’s staunchest allies during his presidency, as well as one of Mr Obama’s.
Mrs Pelosi mobilised her caucus against Donald Trump, particularly during his first term, when he was impeached twice.
Mr Trump on Thursday hit out at the former speaker as “evil, corrupt and only focused on bad things for our country” and claimed she was “rapidly losing control of her party”.
“I’m very honoured she impeached me twice and failed miserably twice,” the US president said in a statement to Fox News. “Nancy Pelosi is a highly overrated politician.”
Mrs Pelosi and Joe Biden – OLIVIER DOULIERY
Concluding her retirement announcement, Mrs Pelosi urged San Franciscans to “fight for the American values we hold dear”.
She said: “In doing so we ensure that our city shines on as a beacon of hope, justice and peace for the country and for generations to come.”
Speculation has mounted in recent weeks that Mrs Pelosi would not seek another term and step down after the result of the “Proposition 50” vote, ending her career on a high.
Mrs Pelosi recently appeared to hint that at her retirement, suggesting she might not be on the House floor to watch Hakeem Jeffries, currently the Democrat leader in the chamber, sworn in as the first black speaker in 2026.
Mr Jeffries hailed Mrs Pelosi as the “greatest speaker of all time” and an “incredible mentor” in a statement.
In her time as Houes speaker, Mrs Pelosi ushered landmark legislation through Congress – JIM WATSON
Praising her “giant and historic legislative accomplishments”, he said: “The United States is a much better nation today because [of] Nancy Pelosi.”
The Party has been riven by splits over the age of their leaders, amid accusations from younger figures that the party is in the grip of a “gerontocracy”.
Two Democrats, both several decades younger than the former speaker, launched primary campaigns to challenge her for her California seat.
Mrs Pelosi, who is three years older than Mr Biden and will be 86-years-old by the time her term ends in January 2027, had made no outward move to counter them.
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