After almost 40 years in Congress, Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced she will not seek re-election in 2026. Pelosi was first elected to the US House during a special election in 1987. She has served a historic 20 terms and was the first female Speaker of the House, a position she held across two non-consecutive terms.
Pelosi, who turned 85 this past March, made her announcement in a video dedicated to her San Francisco constituents. “I have truly loved serving as your voice in Congress,” she said. “With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative.”
Nancy Pelosi stepped down from leadership in 2022 after Democrats lost the House majority, citing a need for a new generation of leaders to take over. Many speculated she would be retiring soon, but she held out for a few more years. Earlier this year, Pelosi said that she would wait to make an announcement on her political future until after California voted on Proposition 50, Governor Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan to flip five Republican-held congressional seats blue.
