California Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who served as the country’s first female speaker of the House, announced Thursday that she will not seek re-election in 2026, bringing to an end her nearly four-decade career in Congress.
The 85-year-old San Francisco congresswoman made the announcement in a video published on social media on Thursday.
“For decades, I’ve cherished the privilege of representing our magnificent city in the United States Congress,” she said. “I want you, my fellow San Franciscans, to be the first to know I will not be seeking re-election to Congress.”
Her decision follows weeks of speculation as to whether the high-profile Democrat would run for another term in 2026, with rumors swirling on Capitol Hill that she would retire.
It also comes after several Golden State Democrats — including State Sen. Scott Wiener and Saikat Chakrabarti, who served as chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez— threw their hats into the ring to succeed her.
“With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative,” Pelosi added.
In addition to Pelosi, more than two dozen other members of the House have announced they will not run for reelection in the midterms, including seven other Democrats.
The daughter of a Maryland congresswoman, Pelosi grew up enmeshed in politics, attending her first Democratic National Convention at age 12 and meeting President John F. Kennedy at age 20.
After relocating to California and starting a family, she was first elected to Congress in 1987. She gradually climbed the political ranks, rising from a little-known backbencher to an influential powerbroker. As leader of the House Democratic caucus for 20 years, she was a key figure in the legislative accomplishments of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Meanwhile, she worked to oppose the agendas of Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump.
Supporters regard her as a relentless champion for progressive causes such as women’s rights, gay rights, and environmental protection. While detractors often dismiss her as an out-of-touch member of the coastal elite. But — by both allies and critics alike — she is acknowledged as a highly effective political operator, able to cajole diverse factions within her party.
During the Bush years, she advanced to become House minority whip and later House minority leader, opposing the president’s proposed tax cuts and established herself as a fierce critic of the U.S. war in Iraq, which she called a “grotesque mistake.”
In 2007, she became the first-ever woman to wield the speaker’s gavel. Two years later, she proved instrumental in the passage of the Affordable Care Act, Obama’s signature piece of legislation.
She was once again elected to serve as speaker in 2019. During this time, she positioned herself as a fierce critic of Trump — twice impeaching him and memorably tearing up a copy of his State of the Union speech in 2020.
When Biden was in office, the California congresswoman secured the passage of a series of major bills, including the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. In 2024, she is reported to have played a key role in pressuring Biden to exit the presidential race, following concerns about his age and fitness.
Throughout her time on Capitol Hill, Pelosi’s stock trading activity has come under scrutiny, with some accusing her of insider trading. A crisis also came in Pelosi’s personal life in 2022, when an intruder broke into her California residence and attacked her husband with a hammer.
Following her announcement on Thursday, politicians from across the aisle spoke highly of her lengthy career as a lawmaker.
“No one was more skilled at bringing people together and getting legislation passed,” Obama wrote in a post on X (Twitter). “I will always be grateful for her support of the Affordable Care Act.”
“She’s more than a barrier breaker, she is one of our most brilliant and accomplished leaders, who repeatedly overcame steep odds to deliver results that changed people’s lives for the better,” Rep. Don Beyer, a Virginia Democrat, wrote on X.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Adam Schiff, a fellow Californian, described her as the greatest speaker in American history.
GOP Rep. Mike Lawler of New York wrote, “Whatever one thinks about Nancy Pelosi or the policies she fought for, she is an historic figure in American politics. While I was proud to help end her reign as Speaker, I have great respect and admiration for her political prowess and steely resolve.”
Not all reactions were laudatory, though.
Trump, long a vocal critic of the former speaker, told Fox News, “The retirement of Nancy Pelosi is a great thing for America.”
“She was evil, corrupt, and only focused on bad things for our country,” the Republican president added. “She was rapidly losing control of her party.”
The current speaker of the House, Republican Mike Johnson, echoed Trump’s comments, painting Pelosi as increasingly out of step with the Democratic Party.
“Pelosi announced her retirement this morning,” Johnson said during a press conference. “That’s a very important sign that I hope you all will look into. Even the famous San Francisco liberal is not far left enough for the neo marxists.”
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