Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic representative for California, has announced her retirement from Congress, ending her nearly four-decade career as one of the influential figures in US politics.
The 85-year-old became the first woman elected to lead a major political party and confirmed in a video message on Thursday that she will not be seeking election to Congress at the end of her term in January 2027.
She said in her message, "We have made history, we have made progress."
She was of the view that we have always found ways to continue participating in our democracy and ultimately fighting for the Americans we hold dear to us.
Pelosi was first elected to Congress to represent San Francisco at the age of 47, becoming one of the longest-serving Democrats in that role.
She had a crucial role in advancing the agendas of multiple presidents during her career on Capitol Hill.
Pelosi’s announcement to retire from Congress marks one of the most impactful careers in modern American politics, a career in which she remained a major political influence.
She has remained a major political influence and has remarkably navigated political crises throughout her career.
Additionally, she played a key role in helping to pass Proposition 50 in California-a measure that authorized a new congressional map and is projected to help Democrats flip up to five House seats during the 2026 midterms.
Her retirement will surely open a new generation of Democratic leadership in the House, and she will be remembered as a pivotal figure in the U.S. landscape.
