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When Nancy Pelosi retires at the end of her term in early 2027, she will conclude a remarkable run representing San Francisco in Congress for 39 years. Ms. Pelosi, 85, has become one of the most powerful and recognizable figures in American politics. She was the first and only woman to ever serve as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. There she shepherded passage of landmark legislation, including the Affordable Care Act, several climate laws and stimulus packages that helped the country emerge from the Covid pandemic and the 2007-9 economic crisis. She also became a favorite target of Republicans, including President Trump, in large part because of her many wins on Capitol Hill for Democrats. The Democratic Party was in Ms. Pelosi’s blood from the beginning. When she was born in 1940 in Baltimore, her father, Thomas D’Alesandro Jr., a Democrat, had recently begun his first term in the House, representing Maryland. In 1947, he was elected mayor of Baltimore, and a 7-year-old Nancy Pelosi swore him into his new role. Ms. Pelosi learned about politics at the dinner table, graduated from an all-girls Catholic high school and moved to Washington, D.C., 45 miles away — as far as her parents would allow — to attend Trinity College, a Catholic college for women. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
