Today's News: Rep. Nancy Pelosi Announces Retirement from Congress
The first and only female Speaker of the House, Pelosi was a pivotal figure in American politics, known for her legislative achievements and her staunch opposition to President Donald Trump.
Photo: Gabriella Bhaskar/The New York Times
Overview
Date: November 6, 2025
Summary: Representative Nancy Pelosi announced her retirement from Congress, effective at the end of her current term in early 2027, concluding a nearly four-decade career. The first and only female Speaker of the House, Pelosi was a pivotal figure in American politics, known for her legislative achievements, including the Affordable Care Act and Inflation Reduction Act, and her staunch opposition to President Donald Trump. Her announcement followed the successful passage of California’s Proposition 50, a redistricting measure she championed. Her departure sets the stage for a competitive race to succeed her in her San Francisco district.
Sources
The New York Times - Pelosi Plans to Retire in 2027 After 39 Years in Congress
NBC News - Nancy Pelosi, first female speaker of the House, won’t seek re-election to Congress
The Washington Post - Nancy Pelosi announces her retirement from Congress
The Wall Street Journal - Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Retire From Congress
Fox News - Nancy Pelosi will not seek re-election, ending decades-long House career
Key Points
Nancy Pelosi announced her decision to not seek re-election and will retire when her current term ends in early 2027, concluding nearly 40 years representing San Francisco in Congress.
She made history as the nation’s first and only female Speaker of the House, serving two non-consecutive stints (2007-2011 and 2019-2023).
Pelosi is widely recognized for her powerful leadership, ability to unite her Democratic caucus, and her effectiveness in passing landmark legislation, including the Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.
She was a prominent antagonist to President Donald Trump, presiding over both of his House impeachment votes and frequently clashing with him publicly.
Her retirement announcement came days after the successful passage of California’s Proposition 50, a redistricting ballot measure she actively supported and fundraised for, which is expected to benefit Democrats.
Pelosi’s political career began later in life but was rooted in a politically prominent Baltimore family, with her father and brother both serving as mayors.
Her departure creates an open seat in her reliably Democratic San Francisco district, sparking anticipation for a competitive succession race, with at least two candidates already having announced their bids.
She has been praised by Democratic colleagues and even some Republican critics for her political acumen, persistence, and ability to get legislation passed.
Unique Highlights
The New York Times details Pelosi’s “resting is rusting” phrase, her connections with prominent San Francisco Democrats in the 1970s and 1980s, and Cleve Jones’ initial dismissal of her before she became a champion for AIDS crisis awareness. It also mentions her fall in Luxembourg and subsequent hip replacement, and her collaboration with Barbara Boxer to preserve the Presidio as a national park.
CNN highlights Pelosi’s quote from the “song of St. Francis” as the “anthem of our city” and her practice of encouraging endangered Democrats to publicly run against her if it helped them win their local races. The article also mentions that former First Lady Jill Biden called Pelosi’s actions in the run-up to the 2024 election “disappointing” after 50 years of friendship, due to Pelosi’s encouragement for President Biden to leave the presidential ticket.
NBC News outlines Pelosi’s specific ascent through House leadership, including her victories over David Bonior for Minority Whip and Dick Gephardt for Minority Leader. It also mentions her common phrase “For the children” and the internal party brawl where her ally Henry Waxman challenged John Dingell. The article references her op-ed in The Atlantic published on the same day as her announcement, and the retirement of Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, citing extremism and threats.
The Washington Post quotes former Speaker Newt Gingrich, who stated Pelosi might be the “strongest speaker in history” due to her capacity to organize and muscle legislation through with narrow majorities. The article describes Pelosi’s political strategy to “drag Trump down politically” by systematically lowering his approval ratings. It also details the creation of the select investigative committee for the January 6 attack and its role in spurring a Department of Justice investigation and indictment against Trump.
The Wall Street Journal includes a statement from former President Barack Obama on X, praising Pelosi as “one of the best speakers the House of Representatives has ever had.” It further elaborates on Pelosi’s pivotal role in pushing then-President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race following a debate performance, and her private support for an open primary. The article also notes that her daughter, Christine Pelosi, has long been considered a potential successor.
Fox News quotes Donald Trump stating, “I’m very honored she impeached me twice and failed miserably twice.” It also provides a statement from Pelosi’s spokesperson, Ian Krager, prior to the announcement, emphasizing her focus on Proposition 50 and deferring any future plans until after its resolution.
Contrasting Details
President Biden’s Reaction: While CNN and The Wall Street Journal report President Biden’s public statement praising Pelosi as “the best Speaker of the House in American history” and noting his awarding her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, both CNN and The Wall Street Journal also highlight the Bidens’ strained relationship with Pelosi. CNN mentions Jill Biden’s comment that Pelosi’s actions in 2024 were “disappointing,” and The Wall Street Journal states the Bidens “felt stung” by Pelosi’s efforts to encourage President Biden to drop out of the 2024 race. NBC News also notes “The Bidens would later have a falling out with Pelosi” over this issue. This presents a contrast between public commendation and reported private dissatisfaction.
Pelosi’s mention of Trump in her video announcement: NBC News states that “Pelosi made no mention of Trump or the politics of the moment in her video statement.” In contrast, The Washington Post reports that “In her Thursday video, Pelosi never mentioned Trump by name but spoke in indirect ways about how important she considered the mission to oppose his brand of politics.” This indicates a slight difference in interpretation regarding whether Pelosi’s video indirectly addressed her rivalry with Trump.
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