Former speaker, 85, hailed as a ‘legendary’ leader who helped usher in new generation of women in politics
Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, following her announcement that after 20 terms in Congress she plans to retire.
The 85-year-old, the first woman to serve as speaker of the House and one of the most influential leaders in the party, said on Thursday that she would not be seeking re-election in 2026.
“With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative,” Pelosi said.
The news comes as Democrats are riding a high from this week’s elections, which brought major wins for the party, including the passage of a redistricting ballot measure in California and the elections of Zohran Mamdani in New York and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia.
