Recently, on Thursday, November 6, 2025, United States Representative from California and the 52nd Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, announced her retirement after serving her 20th term in the House. In a video message, she stated she will not be running for candidacy again in 2026 and will retire from Congress in 2027.
Pelosi was first elected to the United States Congress in 1987, representing the San Francisco district at age 47. Pelosi was elected as Speaker of the House in 2007, becoming the first woman to hold this position. She served in this position until 2011, and returned to the speaker from 2019 to 2023.
Over her time in the House, Pelosi has achieved many accomplishments besides being the first woman to be elected as speaker of the House, the first female Minority Whip in 2001, and the first female Minority Leader in 2002, according to ABC News. Pelosi helped move forward with the Affordable Care Act through “an uncertain, sometimes fractious caucus and against steep odds in 2010,” according to ABC News. The Affordable Care Act was a law enacted during former U.S. President Barack Obama’s first term that aimed to improve healthcare insurance affordability as well as expand health insurance coverage across the United States.
Pelosi also helped pass bills regarding climate change. Pelosi helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act under former U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration. The Inflation Reduction Act is a bill that allocates $300 billion for investment in clean energy and climate reform. This bill is the largest federal clean energy investment in U.S history.
There were various reactions surrounding Pelosi’s announcement of her retirement. U.S Representative Hakeem Jerfferies and the Minority House Leader from New York described Pelosi as “the greatest Speaker of all time,” when he learned of Pelosi’s announcement. According to X, in the same statement, Jerffries also stated, “The United States is a much better nation today because Nancy Pelosi dedicated her life to serving the children, the climate, the country, and the American people.”
Former U.S. President Joe Biden gave praise to Pelosi in a statement on the social media platform X, saying, “When I was President, we worked together to grow our economy, create millions of jobs, and make historic investments in our nation’s future. She has devoted a significant portion of her life to this country, and America will always be grateful. Jill and I wish Nancy and Paul all the best.”
Former U.S President Barack Obama also posted on X, stating, “For almost four decades, Nancy Pelosi has served the American people and worked to make our country better. No one was more skilled at bringing people together and getting legislation passed – and I will always be grateful for her support of the Affordable Care Act. She made us proud to be Democrats, and will go down in history as one of the best speakers the House of Representatives has ever had.”
Nancy Pelosi has achieved many accomplishments over her years in Congress that have helped shape the United States into the country it is today. Her accomplishments helped “break the marble wall,” a feat that will be remembered throughout history.
