• Nancy Pelosi
• Reelction

NANCY PELOSI ANNOUNCES SHE WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION, ENDING HISTORIC CAREER

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  CapitalTimesNews / 4 weeks
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• 3 min read

Rep. Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday she will not run for reelection next year, concluding a nearly four-decade congressional career that made her the first woman Speaker of the House and one of the most powerful figures in American politics. “I will not be seeking reelection to Congress. With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your representative,” Pelosi, 85, said in a video released to her constituents in San Francisco. Pelosi, who has served in Congress for 36 years, encouraged her city to continue its leadership. “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.” She added, “And now we must continue to do so by remaining full participants in our democracy and fighting for the American ideals we hold dear.” Her decision ricocheted across Washington as a seasoned generation of political leaders steps aside. Pelosi remains a political powerhouse and her departure triggers a succession battle in her district and leaves questions about who will fill her behind-the-scenes leadership role. She noted that her first campaign slogan was “a voice that will be heard,” a promise she fulfilled by becoming a speaker “whose voice would certainly be heard.” Pelosi’s legacy is marked by landmark legislative achievements. During her first term as Speaker, she steered the passage of the Affordable Care Act, Dodd-Frank financial reforms, and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” After Democrats regained control in the 2018 midterms, she became the first speaker in 50 years to reclaim the gavel, leading the House through two impeachments of President Donald Trump. Her tenure was also defined by personal challenges. Her husband, Paul Pelosi, was gravely injured in a hammer attack by an intruder at their home three years ago. Last year, she sustained a hip fracture during a congressional visit to Europe but was noted for her grit, appearing in a group photo smiling on her stiletto heels before surgery. The decision comes as Pelosi quietly helped orchestrate Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, and as she faced a potential primary challenge from left-wing newcomers in her district. Ahead of the 2026 elections, figures like Saikat Chakrabarti and state Sen. Scott Wiener were reportedly considering runs. After Democrats lost the House in the 2022 midterm elections, Pelosi announced she would not seek another term as party leader, instead taking on the title of Speaker Emerita. An architect of major policy and an unmatched fundraiser for her party, Pelosi’s nearly 40-year career in public office leaves an indelible mark on the Capitol.