Opinion | Nancy Pelosi, Badass
New York TimesNov 17, 2022
US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday announced that she will not be seeking re-election as leader of the House Democrats. The 82-year-old has held the position since 2003 when she became House minority leader.
She made her announcement in front of members of Congress, beginning her remarks by reminiscing about the first time she visited the Capitol building when she was six. She also spoke about her father, a former congressman, and the late Democratic representative and civil rights icon John Lewis.
Throughout her storied career, Pelosi has made history as not only the first female Speaker of the House but as a stopgap between her party's agenda and the GOP. From pulling together support to pass Obamacare to leading the charge to enact last year's Inflation Reduction Act, she's become a thorn in the side of Republicans for almost two decades. She will leave an indelible mark on the House of Representatives.
Though stepping down from her official party leader status, Pelosi couldn't possibly let go of the nearly autocratic power she's held onto for so long. Just as she kept the halls of Congress locked down during COVID, she'll likely remain behind the scenes pulling the strings without being held to account in the public spotlight.