Nancy Pelosi announces retirement after decades in US Congress

November 6, 2025

Nancy Pelosi, 85, has announced she will retire from Congress when her current term ends in January 2027, concluding a remarkable political career spanning four decades. The California Democrat made history as the first female Speaker of the House, serving in that role from 2007-2011 and again from 2019-2023, making her one of the most influential figures in American politics. During her tenure, she was instrumental in passing major legislation including the Affordable Care Act under Obama and climate and infrastructure bills under Biden, while also leading two impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump.

Who is affected

Nancy Pelosi (retiring member of Congress)
San Francisco constituents (losing their congressional representative)
California Democrats (losing a senior political leader)
The Democratic Party in Congress (losing a veteran legislator)
Hakeem Jeffries (already serving as current Democratic House leader)

What action is being taken

Pelosi is serving out her current congressional term (which ends January 2027)
Pelosi is working on California Proposition 50, a redistricting effort aimed at flipping House seats to Democrats

Why it matters

Pelosi's retirement marks the departure of one of the most powerful and historically significant figures in American politics, as she was the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House and held that constitutional position—third in line to the presidency—during critical moments in recent history. Her legislative influence was substantial, successfully advancing major policy initiatives across multiple Democratic presidencies despite often narrow congressional majorities, while also serving as a prominent opposition figure to Republican administrations and becoming a focal point of partisan political battles.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC