Nancy Pelosi, former House Speaker, announces retirement from Congress
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 85, announced Thursday she will not seek reelection, ending her nearly four-decade career representing San Francisco.
November 6, 2025 - 10:19 AM ET • 2 min read
U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, announced Thursday that she will not seek reelection to Congress, bringing her nearly four-decade career in Washington to a close.
Pelosi, 85, who has represented San Francisco since she was first elected in 1987, made the decision public in a video address to her constituents. She confirmed she would finish her current term, which concludes in early 2027.
"I will not be seeking reelection to Congress," Pelosi said in the video. "With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative."
The decision marks the close of a storied 20-term congressional career that saw Pelosi rise to the apex of American politics. She was elected to House leadership in 2002 and became the most powerful woman in congressional history, serving as Speaker across two non-consecutive periods.
Pelosi remained an enormously influential figure among Democrats even after stepping down from House leadership two years ago. She was a central figure in the major legislative accomplishments of the Barack Obama and Joe Biden presidencies, including the passage of the Affordable Care Act, climate change legislation, and infrastructure programs.
Reflecting on her long tenure representing California's 11th Congressional District, Pelosi emphasized the unique honor of her role. "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 stated.
In her message to the city she has represented for nearly 40 years, Pelosi issued a call to action for continued civic engagement. "My message to the city I love is this: San Francisco, know your power," she said. "We have made history. We have made progress. We have always led the way. And now we must continue to do so by remaining full participants in our democracy and fighting for the American ideals we hold dear."
When she leaves office in early 2027, Pelosi will have served 39 years in the House. Her career spanned an era of seismic change for American society and her city, from the throes of the AIDS crisis to the legalization of gay marriage and the nation's extreme political polarization.