The first and only female Speaker of the United States House of Representatives in American history, Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, announced on Thursday (November 6) that she will not seek re-election after the current congressional term ends next year.
Pelosi, 85, has been serving in Congress for nearly forty years.
In a video posted on social media, Pelosi said, “There is no higher honor for me than to say in the halls of Congress, ‘I represent the people of San Francisco.'”
She stated, “I genuinely love being your voice in Congress. That’s why I wanted you, my fellow San Franciscans, to be the first to know: I will not seek re-election to Congress.”
Pelosi expressed, “With a heart full of gratitude, I look forward to spending my final year of service as a congresswoman, representing you all with pride.”
Chosen by her Democratic colleagues as House Minority Leader in 2002, Pelosi became one of the most influential women in congressional history.
When the Democrats won the majority control of the House in 2007, Pelosi became the first and only woman to wield the Speaker’s gavel to date.
She held the position until the Democratic Party lost the majority in the House in 2011. When the party regained the House in 2019, Pelosi served as Speaker for a second time until January 2023.
Under her leadership, the Democrats passed several significant bills, including the Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act (focused on healthcare and climate spending).
Even stepping down from the Speaker position, Pelosi has proven to still wield substantial influence within the party, including playing a crucial role in persuading President Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race after his poor debate performance.