Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, long regarded as one of the most powerful figures in American politics, is weighing retirement from Congress as her current term approaches its end in January 2027.
In an interview with the San Francisco Examiner, the 85-year-old California lawmaker said she will not decide whether to run for reelection until after Tuesday’s critical vote.
“That is everything to us,” Pelosi said, referring to the upcoming election that could reshape the state’s political landscape.
California voters are set to decide on a ballot measure that would redraw the state’s congressional districts — a move Pelosi supports, arguing it would give Democrats a stronger hand heading into next year’s midterm elections. Similar redistricting efforts are taking place in Republican-led states like Texas, where lawmakers are seeking to secure additional GOP seats in the House.
Pelosi has represented her San Francisco district for nearly four decades and served two historic stints as House Speaker — first from 2007 to 2011, and again from 2019 to 2023. Her leadership defined an era of Democratic politics, overseeing major legislative battles on health care, stimulus spending, and impeachment proceedings against former President Donald Trump.
In late 2022, Pelosi announced she would not seek another term in Democratic leadership, saying it was time for “a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus.” Her departure paved the way for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York to become the party’s House leader — and potentially, as Pelosi herself has quipped, the nation’s first Black Speaker of the House.
According to reports, Pelosi joked with colleagues that she looked forward to watching Jeffries take the oath of office “if I’m still allowed on the floor,” fueling speculation that she may soon step away from politics altogether.
At a separate press conference on Monday, Jeffries addressed Pelosi’s possible retirement with deep respect and admiration. “Nancy Pelosi is an iconic, legendary, transformational figure who has done so many things over so many years to make life better for so many people,” Jeffries said. “Ultimately, we’ll wait on her to see what decision she makes, and there’s nothing more to say beyond that.”
Meanwhile, the political scene in Pelosi’s home district is already showing signs of transition. Two prominent Democrats — state Sen. Scott Wiener and Saikat Chakrabarti, former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — have entered the primary race. Despite raising over $2 million this election cycle, Pelosi has shown no signs of actively campaigning against them, leading observers to suspect she may be preparing for a graceful exit from Capitol Hill.
Adding another layer to the speculation, Pelosi’s daughter, Christine Pelosi, a longtime Democratic activist and party strategist, has yet to announce whether she will seek to succeed her mother.
Christine has deep roots in Democratic politics, and her entry could transform the race into a symbolic handoff from one generation of Pelosis to the next.
If Pelosi does step aside, it would mark the end of one of the most consequential political careers in modern American history. From her rise as the first female Speaker of the House to her central role in shaping Democratic strategy through decades of partisan clashes, Nancy Pelosi’s influence has been unmatched. Whether she chooses to run again or retire, her decision will shape not just California politics but the national direction of the Democratic Party in the post-Pelosi era.
