Nancy Pelosi, the first and only woman to ever serve as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and one of the most powerful figures in the Democratic Party for more than three decades, has officially announced that she will not run for re-election in 2027, ending a long era in American political history.
In a several-minute video message released Thursday afternoon, 85-year-old Pelosi spoke with emotion about her political journey and her gratitude to her citizens.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to stand on the floor of the House of Representatives and say, ‘I speak for the people of San Francisco.’ I have loved my service in Congress and have always respected the hymn of St. Francis – ‘Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.’ That is why I want you, my fellow citizens of San Francisco, to be the first to know: I will not be running for re-election to Congress,” she declared.
Pelosi stressed that she looks forward "with gratitude" to the final year of her term, calling on the citizens of San Francisco and Americans to continue to be active in defending democracy and the ideals of the country.
"We have made history, we have progressed, and we have led the way. We must continue to do so, by actively participating in our democracy and defending America's ideals," she added in her message.
Pelosi's announcement ended weeks of speculation about her political future after 38 years in Congress. She was first elected in 1987 and in 2007 became the first woman in history to hold the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives — a position she regained after the 2018 election. Pelosi remains to this day the only woman to ever hold the gavel of leadership in the House, leaving a significant legacy in the history of American politics.
Her decision comes just two days after a major victory for the Democratic Party, which marked a historic success in a referendum in California that reshaped the electoral map in favor of Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. According to sources close to her staff, Pelosi has played a crucial role in this victory, raising tens of millions of dollars for campaigns that supported the initiative.
In recent years, Pelosi has been particularly focused on her unwavering stance toward President Donald Trump, with whom she has clashed publicly on several occasions. During her tenure, the House of Representatives conducted two impeachment trials of Trump, and she became internationally known for her symbolic moment when she tore up the text of his 2020 State of the Union address — an act that has remained in the political memory as a sign of her opposition to his administration.
After nearly four decades in Congress, Nancy Pelosi is leaving politics, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy: she is considered by many to be one of the most skilled strategists, strongest negotiators, and most respected figures in the contemporary history of the Democratic Party and the United States.
“My time in public service has been a great blessing,” she concluded, “but now it is time for a new generation to lead and continue the work for the future of our country.”
