Nancy Pelosi announces she will retire from Congress

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced on Thursday she will be retiring from Congress.

The 85-year-old San Francisco representative, who served as speaker from 2007-2011 and again from 2019-2023, issued a video detailing the end of her time in politics and thanking her constituents for their trust in her.

“I want you, my fellow San Franciscans, to be the first to know I will not be seeking re-election to Congress,” she stated. “With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative as we go forward.”

Pelosi became a towering figure in Democratic Party politics throughout her decades in office, being instrumental to ushering through massive policy achievements ranging from the Affordable Care Act, transforming health insurance to be available to all regardless of pre-existing conditions, to the Inflation Reduction Act, which further reformed the health care system and committed billions of dollars to energy and climate policy dominance.

She was also a key figure of opposition during the first Trump administration, overseeing two impeachments of the president, and has been notorious as an effective fundraiser for her party.

Following the 2022 election, Pelosi stepped down as leader of Democrats in the House, passing the torch to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). However, she continued to carry a great deal of influence in party decisions behind the scenes as a veteran leader commanding respect from the caucus.