Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 85, has announced that she will leave Congress after completing her current term.

"I will not run for reelection to Congress," Pelosi said in a video message to her constituents in San Francisco. She noted that she looks forward to her final year as their representative with gratitude.

Pelosi thus confirmed rumors of her intention to end her 38-year career in Congress. Her current term marks her first in decades as a rank-and-file member of Congress.

Pelosi was first elected to Congress in 1987, and in 2007, she made history as the first female Speaker of the US House of Representatives. The publication notes that despite leaving her leadership post, she remains one of the most influential figures in the Democratic Party.

Reflecting on her political career, Pelosi said she has no greater honor than standing on the House floor and speaking on behalf of the people of San Francisco.

On August 22, it was reported that US President Donald Trump's Republican Party was outpacing the Democrats in new member numbers. This was reported by The New York Times (NYT). It was noted that this could help Republicans retain control of the three branches of government in 2026.