After four decades in Congress, Nancy Pelosi prepares to step down in 2027

Nature · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, has announced her retirement. Her career, spanning 40 years, saw her navigate immense political shifts, lead her party through historic legislative battles, and become one of the most consequential figures in modern American legislative history.

Born in Baltimore in 1940, Nancy Pelosi was raised in a political household; her father, Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr., served as a congressman and later as mayor of Baltimore. After graduating from Trinity College in 1962 and moving to San Francisco, she built a reputation as a highly effective fundraiser and organizer. She entered the House of Representatives following a 1987 special election, eventually rising to become minority whip in 2002 and minority leader in 2003, making her the first woman to lead a major party in Congress.

Pelosi’s tenure as speaker was marked by significant legislative achievements and intense partisan conflict. During her first speakership, which began in 2007, she was instrumental in passing the 2009 stimulus package and the 2010 health care reform, which extended coverage to approximately 30 million uninsured Americans. Her leadership style, often described as iron-willed, allowed her to maintain party unity even as she faced sharp criticism from conservatives and Tea Party activists during the 2010 midterm elections.

Returning as speaker in 2019, Pelosi became the first person in over 60 years to hold the position in nonconsecutive terms. She led the House through high-stakes confrontations, including the longest government shutdown in history and two impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. In November 2025, Pelosi announced she would not seek reelection in 2026, signaling the end of a four-decade career that transformed the role of the speaker and solidified her status as a central power broker in Washington.

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