Nancy Pelosi, 85, a Democrat who became the first woman to serve as speaker of the House, the No. 3 position in U.S. power, has announced her retirement from politics.
On Oct. 6 local time, Pelosi declared in a video address to voters in her San Francisco district in California that she will not run in the House election to be held in Nov. next year. After entering politics in 1987, she is set to end her 40-year legislative career when her term expires in Jan. 2027.
Announcing her retirement that day, Pelosi said, This is what I want to say to the city I love. San Francisco, you must know your power, adding, We made history, we made progress, and we have always led. She continued, Now we must continue on that path by actively participating in democracy and continuing the fight to defend the American ideals we cherish.
Pelosi is the first and, to date, only woman to serve as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. She is regarded as a symbolic figure who broke through the glass ceiling to reach the top ranks in the male-dominated world of American politics.
Representing the strongly progressive San Francisco district, Pelosi entered politics in 1987 at age 47. After spending time as a homemaker, she stepped onto the Washington stage at a relatively late age. But she soon expanded her footing on the strength of formidable political acumen and fundraising power.
Elected House Democratic leader in 2003, she led House Democrats for 20 years. For eight of those years, she served two stints as speaker, from 2007 to 2011 and from 2019 to 2023. The political outlet Axios assessed that Pelosi was known for an ability to raise enormous sums of political money and for being an effective legislative strategist.
Her legislative record is clear. During the Barack Obama administration, she led the passage of Obamacare (health insurance reform). Under the Joe Biden administration, she drove the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). On Korea-related matters, she also played a leading role in the U.S. House in 2007 in passing a resolution on Japanese military comfort women.
In particular, Pelosi drew global attention as a powerful counterweight during Donald Trump's first presidential term from 2017 to 2021. Throughout her second speakership, she clashed sharply with Trump at every turn. Citing the Ukraine scandal and the Capitol riot, she also led the House to pass articles of impeachment against Trump twice.
Because of this Karma, Trump unleashed a barrage of crude attacks at the news of Pelosi's retirement that day. Meeting with reporters, Trump said he was glad she was retiring and added, I think she is an evil woman. He went on, I think she did a great service to the country by retiring, and said, I think she was terrible. She did a lousy job that damaged the country's reputation and caused a lot of harm.
Even after stepping down from House leadership in 2022, Pelosi has remained an influential presence within House Democrats. After her retirement, her absence is expected to significantly affect the balance of power within the Democratic Party.
Axios, reading Pelosi's exit, said it signifies the end of an era in Washington, D.C., and analyzed that it will also send profound political ripples through her home state of California.