Public sentiment regarding Nancy Pelosi's retirement is predominantly negative, with many expressing relief, anger, and disdain over her lengthy tenure and perceived corruption. While some commenters acknowledge her past contributions, the prevailing sentiment calls for generational change in leadership, emphasizing a strong desire for political reform within the Democratic Party.

Nancy Pelosi

Democratic Party


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Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California) announced Thursday that she will not run for reelection next year, ending a nearly four-decade congressional career that saw her become the first woman speaker of the House and wield more power on Capitol Hill than almost any man has before or — so far — after her.

“I will not be seeking reelection to Congress. With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your representative,” Pelosi, 85, said in a video released to her constituents in San Francisco that featured highlights of her career.

The Democrat announced her decision following the success of a redistricting ballot initiative launched by California Democrats. On Tuesday, voters gave the state license to redraw California’s 52 House districts in Democrats’ favor. Pelosi supported the effort, and its victory caps her quarter-century effort to make California the bedrock of Democratic politics on Capitol Hill.

Read more here: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/11/06/nancy-pelosi-retire-2025-house-speaker-democrats/?utm\_campaign=wp\_main&amp;utm\_medium=social&amp;utm\_source=reddit.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/11/06/nancy-pelosi-retire-2025-house-speaker-democrats/?utm_campaign=wp_main&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=reddit.com)

washingtonpost

But why? She’s only 85! She still has at least another decade in her. 🙃

ggmtz

Chuck Schumer needs to be thrown out next.

BIGMCLARGEHUGE__

plane1938

Let’s make this a trend.  Purge the elderly from your party DNC

JoeFTPgamerIOS

“I was in Congress for 39 years, and actively held back younger, more talented, and more in touch candidates for much of that time. I made myself dramatically wealthier and helped maintain the status quo. In many ways I am as responsible for Trump’s rise in power as anyone else, having been asleep at the wheel and resistant to change for decades.

Now celebrate my legacy you PEASANTS!”

Hey… I’m liberal AF and want to say clearly: good riddance to bad rubbish, and we can’t forget her quickly enough.

AccomplishedView1022

She did a fair amount of good in her time in Congress, she defeated GWB's attempt to privatize social security and more.

That said this is 2025 and while i respect her positive contributions, i hope someone more progressive comes along.

SmartQuokka

She was an excellent speaker who delivered a lot of democratic wins, and she protected rules that allowed insider trading and stayed in office past when she should have graciously exited which is going to tarnish her legacy in the minds of many

AModel3Owner

Olddellago

Man, as a liberal, the last few days have been so filled with good news I feel like I'm being love bombed in an abusive relationship.

windsock17

I think Nancy Pelosi has been a great public servant, Speaker of the House, and member of congress, but she still should have retired more than 10 years ago, and members of congress still shouldn't be able to directly trade on securities whose success or failure they influence, and on which they have access to non-public information.

orangesfwr

This is not something to be celebrated for their legacy. 20 years too late.

Selfish fucks.

Sea_Refrigerator3709

Y’all really are blinded by your own biases. Pelosi opened so many doors for woman, and will go down as one of the biggest female trailblazers ever. 

She may have been more moderate/centrist than you would have liked, especially near the end of her career. But shes a legend who deserves her flowers at the end.

SundayJeffrey

Kneph

Practical-Raise4312

They need to pass legislation implementing age limits. Even if the forced retirement age is as high as 80, that would still be something.

andrea247

American politicians can retire?  I thought they just cling onto power until the first 3-4 feet in the grave.

Polaris07

She's 85, you know there is a lower age limit to being president it's 35.  There should also be an upper limit at election time, maybe 65.  I'm thinking for all elected officials,  for congress,  senate, and even president.

wickedweather

Future senator Seth Moulton was the first that called for a new generation of democratic leadership 7-8 years ago.

thaidollarsigns

JebediahPicklesmith

Why am I supposed to herald her announcing she won’t run for re-election at the age of 85 like it’s some dignified passing of the torch? We really need to get away from being represented by the elderly. They don’t have to live with the decisions they’re making very long.

iron64

Now let's get rid of all the other geriatrics and implement an age limit.

DeLongestTom182

Purona

goodbye to one of the biggest insider traders in history, someone who held back the democratic party, keeping them centrist and old for decades. goodbye, good riddance.

LieutJimDangle

Being a “Republican” and all, I tend to disagree with her more often than I agree but it is undeniable that she had a political career many would dream of. Shes getting pretty old anyways so pretty well-deserved

KnezNikola

‘Something something 20 years too late’ is either the meme or the line the bots are using today.

WHTLGHTNNSTDFMTNDW

Fucking finally. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, you useless moron. Can you take Chuck with you?

BrokenXeno

Acrobatic_County_307

BearSquid7

IllyriaCervarro

An undeniable force in Congress, but also a dinosaur who has enabled the current state of the Democratic Party through massive fundraising abilities and political power, and undercut the country’s progress towards its ideals by holding the Democratic Party to the will of corporate moderates when the people of this country need far greater representation.

Special-Effort-9399

Good. Fucking. Riddance.

Used the office to amass wealth for herself while holding everyone else back. Can’t take the money to the grave, asshole.

mattfromjoisey

Thank god she’s done. Should’ve happened a decade ago

Hossflex

I’m pretty liberal, but this is 20 years too late. Thanks for being the poster child of greedy politicians that helped create the mess this country is in. Now gladly fuck off.

Jazzlike-Attorney-96

To be fair, without her , no ACA. But yeh I am glad to see her go.

1footN

good riddance. drain the swamp of the democratic party of all these pseudo republicans

wolahipirate

good riddance. she should have been gone years ago.

I_SHIT_IN_A_BAG

Good 85 years old is insane to have her keep holding a position of importance

PollutionSpirited241

Ok-Stretch1022

As a non american who read her name quite often, I just realized that I dont know if she is republican or democrat. Not the best sign.

SilentApo

Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out lady

Dangerous-Chicken-79

WindowNo

Good. Can’t get more of a poster child for insider trading than her.

Sweet-Razzmatazz-993

Good riddance. She made enough insider trading money. Now Schumer next. Get these fossils out of here.

Wamb0wneD

I hate these greedy old fucks that retire 20 years too late.  Chuck Shumar and Mitch McConnell next please.

Interesting-City118

jerryleebee

Get rid of the old Democrat trash. We need more Mandani politicians less Pelosi's

blue_hemoglobin

What will she do in the 3 minutes of retirement before the grave?

WearyMatter

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flairassistant

No offence, but I genuinely thought she’d rather die in office than retire on her own.

One-Composer1577

It should not be this rare to have someone in Congress retire when they are in their freaking 80’s.

crackerfactorywheel

Good. Now do Chuck Schumer next. There should be age and term limits.

CobblerTricky7035

Her term ends in 2027. 

The establishment dems need to get younger. Some of what has transpired over the last few election cycles is due to their reluctance to giving up power.

Lokaji

Nancy Pelosi is almost single-handedly responsible for getting the ACA passed, opposed the War in Iraq, and has been an ally of the LGBTQ community since the early 90s. I absolutely agree we need term and age limits on Congress but she was a kickass Speaker, savvy politician, and knew how to reach across the aisle to get shit done. Wish she had a worthy successor because at this point Jeffries doesn't pass muster.

vellichorxlibris

Brilliant leader and strategist, but at 85, it's time to pass the torch. There should be ‘term limits’!

CrouchingTiger23

Unfortunately theres still way too much old guard. And Jeffries is not looking much better with how handled Zohran. This party is still a corpse as long as the threat of another Kamala campaign exists.

isarealhebrew

GhostofTinky

The way I have zero desire to work to that age in any capacity.

TizzyBumblefluff

For some reason I thought she had already said this was going to be her last term?

Natural_Error_7286

I mean, it is really obscene we have so many people over 80 running the country.

You wouldn’t let her go to Walgreen’s by herself if she were your family member. Didn’t she break her hip within the past year? It’s just insane.

c0smicgirly

Term limits. You’ll never convince me otherwise.

btb0002

I saw a comment from someone with the *audacity* to say she should be jailed for insider trading, when they so conveniently forgot about literally everyone else in the current administration's wrongdoings.

fire2day

It would be wonderful to see all the old people exit from Congress. It just makes me sad It took electing Trump to make them do it.

Fun-Significance4650

Angiepoo89

Can the rest of them over the retirement age leave Congress also? 

Daveit4later

Charming_Cry3472

About fucking time. Take the rest of the dinosaurs with you

DJfunkyPuddle

OysterLucy

daxxarg

zeldasusername

Well, she got her bag. Congrats on all the insider trading and fucking over the working poor I guess?

turtlevinyl

That's crazy. Is there too much heat on insider trading now or is that legislation coming?

iEatMashedPotatoes

Democrat here.  I'm not bracing for anything.  It's long overdue.  The rest of the old guard of ineffective leaders should also go.  Start with Schumer.

KronkLaSworda

Brace? Shit, I need to pick up a bottle of bubbles.

WinterXORmute

By brace for you mean look forward to eagerly?

Pelosi blocked AOC from the House Oversight committee. So yeah, good riddance, she can say goodbye to her insider stock trading.

Radically-Peaceful

Old_Cryptid

The entire old guard needs to go. She is one of the most effective speakers of house ever, but young innovators need to be given their time in leadership.

ShweatyPalmsh

She is 85. 

My dad died at 83. Politicians need term limits. They shouldn't be allowed decades of power and corruption.

Avoidtolls

But if she retires who will my mom blame for committing crimes every time the GOP regime actively violates the constitution?

ARedditAccount09

CrashInspecta

Just a thought but maybe Congress shouldn’t be a career.

m1j2p3

Pelosi said, "Honey, I've got protest signs older than you in my basement." to AOC.

And they haven't seen the light of day since the 70's.

Go home, Nancy.

bigmacwood

At 85? So soon? 🙄

We really need term limits that are much lower  than "limit up to, but may not to exceed, death."

krashe1313

She's the most effective behind the scenes Dem politician since LBJ,but she absolutely should retire. Even if just the practical reason of the fact a vacant safe D seat due to an Octanegerian dying in office is esssentially a gain of a seat for the GOP since even in safe seats where the house member has a gov of their party speed rushing the special election it still leaves a seat vacant for a good chunk of the their tenture..

SmileyPiesUntilIDrop

Bracing is a bit of hyperbole. She's 85 and none us of get out of this place alive.

She will have a place in the pantheon of great Speakers, along with Rayburn, Cannon and O'Neil.

And she had a lot smaller margin that they had.

rapidcreek409

I support term &amp; age limits for congress. Nancy needs to GTFO already. As does Grace Napolitano (D), Bill Pascrell (D), Hal Rodgers (R), Maxine Waters (D) Steny Hoyer (D), &amp; Charles Grassley (R). 

We need younger members in congress who are more in touch with real Americans, not just the billionaires.

h3rs3lf_atl

marzgamingmaster

It wouldnt be a problem if these people would just resign. Just time it right before an election so you can leave office when your replacement comes in. Instead they pull a RBG and die in office, leaving an empty seat when it matters most.

Cranberryoftheorient

If she did nothing to prepare or train any successors then she is a failure just for that.

Calintarez

Should have happened a decade ago. Also Chuck “the cuck” Schumer and Moscow Mitch “Turtle” McConnell both need to go too. We need to stop having 80+ year old geriatrics in charge of the government.

fullload93

Raijer

hamilton280P

About time. The old guard has overstayed their passive ass welcome.

shadowriku459

Signal-View4754

She was the most effective Speaker and Legislator and Deal Maker in her time in the House. I agree her stepping down from leadership was a little overdue to make room for Jeffries. Her power behind the scenes is what finally forced Biden to step down from running, but it also has hindered a newer generation of politician from stepping up to energize the party, like stopping AOC from leading a committee, that is prime for TV theatrics, with a 70 something year old that still acts like it is the normal times....

Flawed, to be sure, her leadership and value to the party should be celebrated. But retirement probably could have come a little sooner.

lesrisen

sls35

She was a masterful politician. However, at 85 years old, it's time to hang it up. Democrats lost like 6 people who died in office last session. These people need to move over and let younger people have a turn.

HazyDavey68

Nancy Pelosi announced her retirement from Congress, creating a significant power shift within the Democratic Party.

Nancy Pelosi Retirement

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