Nancy Pelosi, the first woman ever to serve as US House Speaker and one of the most influential Democrats in modern history — announced she will not seek re-election in 2026, closing a political career that shaped US policy for nearly 40 years.
The 85-year-old California lawmaker, first elected in 1987, called her upcoming final year in Congress “a time of gratitude,” highlighting the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) as her proudest achievement. Pelosi’s tenure included leading two impeachments of Donald Trump and helping steer landmark healthcare, infrastructure, and climate legislation.
Pelosi also became a lightning rod for political controversy — often praised for her legislative power but criticized by conservatives for her wealth and stock market success. Her family’s trading activity, which reportedly generated millions in profits from companies such as Nvidia and Apple, fueled repeated calls for a congressional ban on stock trading. When asked in 2022 if lawmakers should be barred from trading, Pelosi famously replied: “We’re a free-market economy — they should be able to participate in that.”
Her retirement marks the end of an era for the Democratic Party and for American politics — one defined by sharp partisan battles, generational change, and an enduring legacy of power and controversy.
