WASHINGTON (Realist English). Nancy Pelosi, the trailblazing California Democrat who became the first woman to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, announced on Thursday that she will not seek reelection in 2026, marking the end of a congressional career spanning nearly four decades.
Pelosi, 85, shared the news in a video message addressed to her constituents.
“There has been no greater honor for me than to stand on the House floor and say, ‘I speak for the people of San Francisco,’” she said. “I have truly loved serving as your voice in Congress. That is why I want you, my fellow San Franciscans, to be the first to know: I will not be seeking reelection to Congress.”
She added that she looks forward to her final year of service “with a grateful heart.”
A historic career
Pelosi entered Congress in 1987 and quickly rose through the Democratic ranks. In 2002, she became the first woman in U.S. history to lead a major party in the House as minority leader. When Democrats gained the majority in 2007, she was elected Speaker, making her the most powerful woman ever to serve in Congress.
Pelosi presided over two separate terms as Speaker — from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023 — steering her party through contentious legislative battles and two presidential impeachments.
Her decision not to run again closes a defining chapter in modern American politics. For generations of Democrats, Pelosi embodied both discipline and influence, shaping the party’s agenda on healthcare, economic reform, and climate policy.
If she completes her term, Pelosi will leave office in early 2027 — nearly 40 years after first being elected, ending one of the longest and most consequential careers in congressional history.
