In announcing her retirement from Congress in 2027, Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi — the former House speaker from San Francisco who will have served 39 years at that point — received a taunt from Donald Trump. With his usual lack of graciousness, the president called her “a vile creature” and said he was glad she’s retiring. That’s harsh, but we understand why Trump is happy to see her leave given her effectiveness at promoting Democratic priorities.
Myriad tributes note her role as the only woman to have held the speakership position, but her tenure was never about breaking glass (or marble, per NPR) ceilings. She was a remarkably skilled leader, someone who, as The New York Times noted, had “the tactical ability to know every facet of every bill and exactly where each member stood on it.” We usually opposed her lawmaking efforts, which is why we often cringed at her legislative prowess.
For instance, it’s doubtful the troublesome Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, would have passed without Pelosi’s efforts. She pushed through major climate-change legislation that was too progressive for many of her party’s own members. She helped secure massive COVID-19-related spending and the bank bailout following the 2008 financial crisis. These “accomplishments” are the sort of big government policies we don’t care for, but reflected her ability to get big things done.
She was, however, a steady voice on foreign policy. Pelosi was one of 133 members of Congress who in 2002 wisely voted against the Iraq War. She has been described as a “progressive hawk” on China policy — and boldly visited Taiwan in 2022 amid communist China’s bluster. She has supported aid to Ukraine and has stood up to the party’s far-left anti-Israel voices.
The front-runner to replace her in Congress is state Sen. Scott Wiener, who has been the most accomplished Democrat in the Legislature on housing issues. Pelosi is 85, so it is time for a younger generation to step in. Unlike Trump and oddly enough, MAGA Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia had the right take: “I wish we could get things done for our party, like Nancy Pelosi was able to deliver for her party.”