Following a legendary run, Nancy Pelosi agrees to pass the torch.
Not to put too fine a point on this, but lawmakers and leaders with records like Nancy Pelosi’s tend to have buildings named after them.
Nancy Pelosi, the first female speaker of the House, who helped shape many of the most consequential laws of the early 21st century, said Thursday that she will step down after two decades as the Democratic Party’s leader in the chamber. “With great confidence in our caucus I will not seek re-election to Democratic leadership in the next Congress,” Pelosi said in a speech on the House floor.
The Democratic lawmaker is not resigning. Pelosi, who was easily re-elected last week, explained in her remarks that she will remain in Congress as a Democratic member representing San Francisco.
It was Pelosi who helped pass the Recovery Act that ended the Great Recession. It was Pelosi who ensured the Affordable Care Act became law. It was Pelosi whose record includes historic legislative victories on civil rights, Wall Street reforms, student loans, Covid relief, climate change, infrastructure and prescription medications.
President Joe Biden issued a written statement this afternoon, saying, “History will note she is the most consequential Speaker of the House of Representatives in our history.” There is no reason to consider that hyperbolic in the slightest.
Postscript: During her floor remarks today, Pelosi said she’s “enjoyed working with three presidents” as speaker, before referencing accomplishments from the Bush, Obama and Biden eras.
Left unsaid was the fact that Pelosi served as speaker under four presidents, not three