Discover the career path of Nancy Pelosi, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Nancy Pelosi is an American politician notable for being the 52nd Speaker of the House, serving from 2007-2011 and 2019-2023. As a Democrat, she was the first woman to hold the Speakership and lead a major party in Congress, heading House Democrats from 2003-2023. Representing California's 11th district since 1987, encompassing much of San Francisco, she holds the distinction of being the dean of California's congressional delegation.
In 1976, Nancy Pelosi was elected as a Democratic National Committee member from California.
In 1977, Nancy Pelosi was elected as party chair for Northern California.
In 1983, Nancy Pelosi's role as head of the California Democratic Party ended.
In 1984, Nancy Pelosi served as the San Francisco Democratic National Convention Host Committee chairwoman.
From 1985 to 1986, Nancy Pelosi served as Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee finance chair.
From 1985 to 1986, Nancy Pelosi served as Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee finance chair.
On April 7, 1987, Nancy Pelosi won the special election to succeed Sala Burton, defeating Democratic San Francisco supervisor Harry Britt.
In 1987, Nancy Pelosi became a member of the House, representing California's 11th congressional district.
In 1987, Nancy Pelosi was first elected to Congress in a special election.
In March 1988, Nancy Pelosi voted for the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 (as well as to override President Ronald Reagan's veto).
Unlike in her 1987 campaign, Pelosi has not participated in candidates' debates in her reelection campaigns.
In March 1988, Nancy Pelosi voted for the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987.
In her first reelection campaign in 1988, Pelosi won an average of 80% of the vote.
In 1989, Pelosi called on President Clinton and Vice President Gore to ask Zhu to recognize the 1989 protests as a pro-democracy effort.
In 1989, after the Tiananmen Square protests, Pelosi sought to take a harsher position toward China than President George H.W. Bush.
In December 1990, the Ryan White CARE Act, co-authored by Nancy Pelosi, was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush. The act allocated funding dedicated to providing treatment and services for those impacted by HIV/AIDS.
In 1991, Nancy Pelosi opposed the U.S. intervention in the Gulf War, marking an early stance on foreign policy.
In 1991, Pelosi unfurled a banner in Tiananmen Square as part of a Congressional delegation, provoking a confrontation with Chinese police.
In 1994, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which Nancy Pelosi helped shape, became law.
In 1995, Nancy Pelosi voted in favor of the Jerusalem Embassy Act, which urged the federal government to relocate the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
In 1995, Pelosi voted against the 1995 Balanced Budget Proposed Constitutional Amendment, which passed the House but failed in the Senate.
In 1996, Nancy Pelosi's term as Democratic National Committee member from California ended.
In 1996, Pelosi voted against the Defense of Marriage Act.
In 1998, Pelosi voted in favor of the Abortion Funding Amendment, which would have allowed the use of district funds to promote abortion-related activities, but would have prohibited the use of federal funds.
In 1999, Pelosi called on President Clinton and Vice President Gore to ask Zhu to recognize the 1989 protests as a pro-democracy effort.
In 1999, Pelosi voted against displaying the Ten Commandments in public buildings, including schools.
During the 2000 election cycle, Pelosi contributed the most money to other congressional campaigns among members of Congress.
In 2001, Nancy Pelosi was elected House minority whip.
In 2001, Nancy Pelosi was elected the House minority whip, becoming the first woman in U.S. history to hold that post.
On November 15, 2002, Nancy Pelosi defeated Harold Ford Jr. 117-29 in a closed-door vote of caucus members to become the House Democratic Caucus's leader.
In November 2002, Nancy Pelosi was elected House minority leader, becoming the first woman to lead a major party in either chamber of Congress.
During the 2002 election cycle, Pelosi contributed the most money to other congressional campaigns among members of Congress.
In 2002, Nancy Pelosi opposed the Iraq Resolution authorizing President George W. Bush to use military force against Iraq, citing concerns about unilateral action without exhausting diplomatic remedies and respecting the UN and a multilateral approach.
From 2003, Pelosi raised more than $400 million in campaign funds.
In 2003, Nancy Pelosi started leading the House Democrats.
In 2003, Pelosi left the Congressional Progressive Caucus after being elected House minority leader.
In 2003, Pelosi voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003.
In 2004, Pelosi voted against the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment.
In November 2002, after Gephardt resigned as House minority leader to seek the Democratic nomination in the 2004 presidential election, Pelosi was elected to replace him, becoming the first woman to lead a major party in either chamber of Congress.
In her seventh reelection campaign in 2004, Pelosi won an average of 80% of the vote.
In a speech at the AIPAC 2005 annual conference, Nancy Pelosi stated that "for too long, leaders from both parties haven't done enough" to put pressure on Russia and China who are providing Iran with technological information on nuclear issues and missiles.
On November 16, 2006, the Democratic caucus unanimously nominated Nancy Pelosi for speaker.
Before the 2006 elections in the Palestinian Authority, Nancy Pelosi voted for a Congressional initiative that disapproved of participation in the elections by Hamas and other organizations the legislation defined as terrorist.
In 2006, Nancy Pelosi focused on retaking the House majority.
In 2006, Pelosi voted against the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment.
In 2006, Pelosi was the Democratic Party's third-largest fundraiser, behind Bill and Hillary Clinton.
In September 2008, during a reception with the Israeli Speaker of the Knesset, Nancy Pelosi held up replica dog tags of the three Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah and Hamas in 2006 as a "symbol of the sacrifices made" by the people of Israel.
In the 2006 midterm elections, Nancy Pelosi led the Democrats to a majority in the House for the first time in 12 years and was subsequently elected Speaker.
On January 12, 2007, Congressman Walter B. Jones introduced a resolution requiring congressional consultation and authorization before the president could use military force against Iran, absent an attack or imminent attack by Iran on the U.S. or its armed forces.
On February 15, 2007, Nancy Pelosi stated that President Bush supported a diplomatic resolution to differences with Iran and expressed the need for Congress to assert its authority regarding the use of military force against Iran.
On March 13, 2007, Nancy Pelosi removed a resolution from a military spending bill for the war in Iraq, a resolution that would have required congressional consultation and authorization before the president could use military force against Iran.
In April 2007, Nancy Pelosi visited Syria, meeting with Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa, and President Bashar al-Assad, conveying a message for peace from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert despite President Bush's efforts to isolate Syria.
In May 2007, Nancy Pelosi publicly scolded Colombian President Álvaro Uribe during his state visit to America, expressing concerns about alleged links between paramilitary groups and Colombian government officials and opposing the Colombian free-trade agreement.
In 2007, Nancy Pelosi became the 52nd speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
In 2007, as Speaker of the House, Pelosi spearheaded the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 as part of the 100-Hour Plan.
In September 2008, Nancy Pelosi hosted a reception in Washington with Israeli Speaker of the Knesset Dalia Itzik, where they celebrated the strong friendship between Israel and the United States.
In 2008, Nancy Pelosi stated her opposition to the embargo on Cuba, advocating for the removal of travel bans and increased people-to-people exchanges.
In 2008, Pelosi criticized the People's Republic of China for its handling of the unrest in Tibet and called on "freedom-loving people" worldwide to denounce China for its human rights abuses in Tibet.
In 2008, Pelosi welcomed the Supreme Court of California's decision overturning the state's ban on marriage between same-sex couples and opposed Proposition 8.
In a January 25, 2009 interview, Pelosi stated that one of the reasons she supported family planning services was to reduce costs to states and the federal government.
In December 2009, Pelosi worked with a House majority as large as 81 seats (258–177).
In 2009, Nancy Pelosi participated in the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
In 2010, Pelosi backed a bill naming China a currency manipulator, which would appease exporters.
In 2010, Pelosi was instrumental in passing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. She played a key role in convincing Obama to continue pushing for health-care reform.
In the 2010 midterm elections, the Republican Party retook the majority, Nancy Pelosi lost the speakership, but retained her role as leader of the House Democrats and became House minority leader for a second time.
In 2011, Nancy Pelosi's first term as speaker of the House ended.
In 2012, Pelosi explained that her support for LGBT rights stemmed from her Catholic faith, even though it contrasted with Catholic doctrine.
In 2012, Pelosi received a 0% rating from Gun Owners of America and a 7% rating from the National Rifle Association of America for her stances on gun control.
In February 2013, Pelosi called for the "Boldest possible move" on gun control.
In 2014, Nancy Pelosi supported Israel during the Israel-Gaza conflict, demonstrating her consistent support for the country.
Until 2014, Pelosi raised more than $400 million in campaign funds.
In July 2015, Nancy Pelosi expressed confidence that President Obama would secure enough votes for the Iran nuclear deal, praising his presentation and calling the deal "a diplomatic masterpiece."
In 2015, Nancy Pelosi supported President Obama's Cuban Thaw and visited Havana for meetings with high-level officials, signaling a shift in U.S.-Cuba relations.
In 2016, Nancy Pelosi argued against two bills that would block Iran's access to the dollar and impose sanctions for its ballistic missile program, stating that the JCPOA was the best way to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon.
In 2016, Nancy Pelosi voiced heavy criticism over Israel's plan to annex parts of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley. Pelosi said that Democrats are taking "a great pride" in Barack Obama's Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that Israel signed with the Obama administration in 2016, for a guarantee of $38 billion in defense assistance over a decade.
In December 2017, Nancy Pelosi wrote a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan advocating for the continued House investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
In January 2017, Nancy Pelosi voted against a House resolution that would condemn the UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which criticized Israeli settlement building. She also condemned the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel.
On March 10, 2017, Pelosi stated Democrats would continue battling Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act but were open to compromise.
In August 2017, Nancy Pelosi criticized President Trump's warning to North Korea, calling it "recklessly belligerent" and demonstrating a "grave lack of appreciation" for the situation.
In August 2017, Nancy Pelosi supported Senator Cory Booker's initiative to remove Confederate monuments and memorials from the Capitol Building through legislation.
In August 2017, Pelosi criticized the imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists, calling the ruling an injustice.
In November 2017, after the Pentagon suggested a ground invasion might be necessary to destroy North Korea's nuclear weapons, Nancy Pelosi expressed concern about Pyongyang's selling nuclear technology and called for the United States to "exhaust every other remedy".
In December 2017, Nancy Pelosi wrote a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan advocating for the continued House investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, citing concerns about American democracy and national security.
In December 2017, Pelosi opposed the tax reform signed by Trump, calling it "probably one of the worst bills in the history of the United States of America".
In January 2018, Pelosi responded to companies crediting tax cuts with wage increases and bonuses by saying the benefits workers received were "crumbs".
In February 2018, after the release of a Republican report alleging surveillance abuses by the Justice Department, Nancy Pelosi accused President Trump of siding with Russian president Vladimir Putin at the expense of preserving intelligence sources and methods.
In February 2018, following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Pelosi criticized Republicans' "cowering" to the gun lobby and called for action on gun control.
In March 2018, Nancy Pelosi said, "There is no greater political accomplishment in the 20th Century than the establishment of the State of Israel."
In March 2018, Pelosi urged Trump to focus more on China and impose real punishments for unfair trade practices.
In April 2018, Peter Beinart wrote in The Atlantic that Pelosi had been "the most effective congressional leader of modern times—and, not coincidentally, the most vilified."
In May 2018, after President Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, Nancy Pelosi called the decision an abdication of American leadership and described it as "particularly senseless, disturbing & dangerous."
In June 2018, after President Trump praised North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Nancy Pelosi stated that Trump had elevated North Korea while preserving the regime's status quo.
In July 2018, Pelosi discussed Democrats' goals to expand healthcare coverage and address affordability issues.
In August 2018, after Trump's emergency declaration for the Carr Fire, Pelosi called it "an important first step" but requested further aid and action on climate change.
In November 2018, Pelosi discussed infrastructure development with Trump, mentioning potential bipartisan legislative initiatives.
In November 2018, after Democrats gained a House majority, Pelosi said she was staying as Speaker to protect the Affordable Care Act.
In November 2018, after the Thousand Oaks shooting, Pelosi released a statement pledging that gun control would be a priority for House Democrats in the 116th United States Congress.
In November 2018, the Democrats gained control of the House, and Pelosi took office as Speaker.
In December 2018, Pelosi and Charles E. Schumer met with Trump and Pence to discuss changes to be made when the new Democratic representatives take office in 2019.
In 2018 midterm elections, the Democrats regained majority control of the House, and Pelosi was again elected Speaker.
In 2018, Pelosi agreed not to stay on as speaker beyond January 2023.
In the 2018 elections, the Democrats gained 41 seats, recapturing a House majority. This was the party's largest gain since 1974.
On January 3, 2019, Pelosi was reelected as Speaker of the House at the start of the 116th Congress, agreeing to serve no more than four years in the role.
In January 2019, Pelosi supported President Trump in his decision to back the leader of the opposition Juan Guaidó during the Venezuelan protests.
In March 2019, Nancy Pelosi stated, "Israel and America are connected now and forever. We will never allow anyone to make Israel a wedge issue."
On May 1, 2019, Pelosi and Schumer met with Trump to discuss infrastructure funding.
In June 2019, Brent Budowsky opined in The Hill that Pelosi had been "the most important, consequential and effective Speaker since Tip O'Neill".
In September 2019, Pelosi met with Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong on Capitol Hill, leading to criticism from Chinese media.
In September 2019, following revelations of the Trump-Ukraine scandal, Pelosi announced the beginning of a formal House impeachment inquiry against Trump.
On September 29, 2019, Pelosi announced the launch of an impeachment inquiry against Trump.
On December 5, 2019, Pelosi authorized the Judiciary Committee to begin drafting articles of impeachment against Trump, following an impeachment inquiry.
In December 2019, the House impeached President Donald Trump for the first time.
On December 18, 2019, the House voted to impeach Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, making him the third president to be impeached.
In 2019, Nancy Pelosi became speaker of the United States House of Representatives for a second time.
In 2019, Pelosi called climate change "the existential threat of our time" and supported action to curb it, along with developing new technologies and conservation programs.
In 2019, Pelosi spoke in Congress in favor of the Equality Act and called for an end to discrimination against LGBT people.
On January 15, 2020, the House transmitted the articles of impeachment to the Republican-controlled Senate for trial, with Pelosi naming the House managers.
In January 2020, on the eve of Trump's first impeachment trial, Paul Kane of the Washington Post called Pelosi the most powerful House speaker in at least 25 years, noting that some historians were comparing her influence to that of former speaker Sam Rayburn.
In June 2020, following protests over George Floyd's murder, Pelosi advocated for the removal of all Confederate statues from the Capitol. On June 18, 2020, she ordered the removal of four paintings of former Confederates from the Capitol Speaker's Gallery.
In 2020, Pelosi agreed again not to stay on as speaker beyond January 2023.
In January 2021, the House impeached President Donald Trump for the second time.
From April to May 2021, Pelosi worked with a House majority as small as 6 seats (218–212).
In December 2021, Pelosi announced her candidacy for reelection to the House in 2022, despite prior agreements not to stay on as speaker beyond January 2023.
In 2021, Pelosi played a key role in the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
In 2021, former Republican speaker John Boehner opined that Pelosi had been the most powerful House speaker in U.S. history.
On August 2, 2022, Nancy Pelosi became the highest-ranking U.S. government official to visit Taiwan in 25 years, a move that heightened tensions between the U.S. and China. Despite discouragement from President Biden, Pelosi's visit was supported by some Republicans and included a meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen.
On August 5, 2022, the Chinese government sanctioned Nancy Pelosi in response to her visit to Taiwan, citing her actions as "seriously interfering in China's internal affairs, undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, trampling on the one-China policy, and threatening the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait".
As of October 2022, Pelosi had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time.
In November 2022, several commentators, including Chris Cillizza, Johnathan Bernstein, Jackie Calmes and Sarah Ferris, described Pelosi as the "most effective speaker ever" or one of the greatest and most powerful speakers in history.
During the 117th Congress, the CHIPS and Science Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 (PACT Act) were passed.
In 2022, Pelosi opposed the overturning of Roe v. Wade, calling it "cruel", "outrageous" and "heart-wrenching".
In 2022, Pelosi was reelected to the House, but the Democratic Party lost the House majority.
On January 3, 2023, Pelosi's second speakership and participation in the House Democratic Party leadership concluded at the end of the 117th Congress.
Ten days after being reelected in 2022, and with the Democrats losing the House, Pelosi announced in January 2023 that she would not seek a Democratic leadership post in the next Congress.
In 2023, Nancy Pelosi's second term as speaker of the House ended, as well as her role leading House Democrats.
On January 28, 2024, Nancy Pelosi suggested that some pro-Palestinian protesters calling for a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war could be connected to Russia and called on the FBI to investigate the possible connection.