Nancy Pelosi's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Nancy Pelosi.

Nancy Pelosi is a prominent American politician, notably serving as the 52nd Speaker of the House of Representatives twice (2007-2011 and 2019-2023). As a Democrat representing California's 11th district since 1987, she made history as the first female Speaker and the first woman to lead a major party in Congress, heading House Democrats for two decades. Her long tenure as a House leader is second only to Sam Rayburn. She remains a significant figure in American politics and the dean of California's congressional delegation.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

February 1987: Pelosi Wins Special Election

In February 1987, Pelosi won the special election to succeed U.S. Representative Sala Burton, defeating Harry Britt in the Democratic primary and Harriet Ross in the general election.

1988: Pelosi Wins Re-election in California's 5th Congressional District

In 1988, Pelosi won re-election in California's 5th congressional district, receiving 76 percent of the vote.

1990: Pelosi Wins Re-election in California's 5th Congressional District

In 1990, Pelosi won re-election in California's 5th congressional district, receiving 77 percent of the vote.

1992: Pelosi Runs in California's 8th Congressional District

In 1992, after redistricting, Pelosi ran in California's 8th congressional district and continued to post landslide victories.

November 2002: Pelosi Elected House Minority Leader

In November 2002, Nancy Pelosi was elected to replace Dick Gephardt as House minority leader, becoming the first woman to lead a major party in either chamber of Congress.

November 16, 2006: Democratic caucus nominated Pelosi for speaker

On November 16, 2006, the Democratic caucus unanimously nominated Nancy Pelosi for speaker of the House, as she was widely expected to become speaker in the next Congress following the Democrats taking control of the House in the 2006 elections.

2006: Democrats Win House Majority

In 2006, Nancy Pelosi led the Democrats to a majority in the House for the first time in 12 years, paving the way for her speakership.

January 4, 2007: Pelosi Elected Speaker of the House

On January 4, 2007, Nancy Pelosi was elected speaker of the House, defeating Republican John Boehner of Ohio with 233 votes to 202.

2007: Pelosi Becomes Speaker of the House

In 2007, Nancy Pelosi became the 52nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

2007: Pelosi Receives NIAF Special Achievement Award

In 2007, Pelosi received the NIAF Special Achievement Award for Public Advocacy from the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), where she served for 13 years as a board member.

2007: Spearheading the Fair Minimum Wage Act

In 2007, as Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi spearheaded the Fair Minimum Wage Act as part of the 100-Hour Plan, raising the minimum wage in the United States and its territories.

2009: Pelosi reelected speaker

In 2009, Nancy Pelosi was reelected as the speaker of the House.

January 2010: Pelosi Spearheaded Affordable Care Act

In January 2010, after the election of Republican Scott Brown cost Democrats their filibuster-proof majority, Nancy Pelosi spearheaded the passage of the Affordable Care Act, convincing Obama to pursue health care reform despite initial hesitation and successfully rallying her caucus. Obama called her "one of the best speakers the House of Representatives has ever had."

November 17, 2010: Pelosi Sought to Continue Leading House Democratic Caucus

On November 17, 2010, after the Democrats lost control of the House, Nancy Pelosi sought to continue leading the House Democratic Caucus as minority leader. She defeated Heath Shuler in the caucus vote.

2010: Pelosi runs in California's 12th congressional district

After redistricting from the 2010 census, Pelosi ran in California's 12th congressional district, which she represented for the next decade.

2010: Role in Passing the Affordable Care Act

In 2010, Nancy Pelosi was instrumental in passing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. She played a key role in convincing President Obama to continue pushing for health-care reform after a special election defeat.

July 2015: Pelosi Confident in Obama Securing Iran Nuclear Deal

In July 2015, Nancy Pelosi stated that she was convinced President Obama would secure enough votes to pass the Iran nuclear deal, and she credited him with making a very strong and forceful presentation of his case supporting the nuclear agreement with Iran, calling the deal "a diplomatic masterpiece".

April 2018: Pelosi praised as effective leader

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."

November 2018: Democrats gain control of House; Pelosi becomes Speaker

In the November 2018 elections, the Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives, and Pelosi took office as Speaker.

2018: Democrats retake House majority

In 2018, the Democrats regained a House majority, securing 41 additional seats. This gain marked the party's largest in the House since the 1974 post-Watergate elections.

January 3, 2019: Pelosi re-elected as Speaker of the House

On January 3, 2019, Nancy Pelosi was re-elected as Speaker of the House at the start of the 116th Congress. To secure the position, Pelosi made a deal to limit her tenure to no more than four years.

June 2019: Pelosi called most important Speaker since Tip O'Neill

In June 2019, Brent Budowsky opined in The Hill that Pelosi had been "the most important, consequential and effective Speaker since Tip O'Neill" and "one of the greatest Speakers who ever served."

October 2019: House Confirms Armenian Genocide Resolution

In October 2019, during Pelosi's second term as Speaker, the House voted 405 to 11 to confirm the resolution that recognizes the Armenian genocide.

2019: Pelosi Returns as Speaker

In 2019, Nancy Pelosi once again became the Speaker of the House.

January 2020: Pelosi called most powerful House speaker in 25 years

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, with historians comparing her influence to Sam Rayburn.

2020: Pelosi represents California's 11th congressional district

Due to the 2020 United States redistricting cycle from the 2020 census, Pelosi now represents California's 11th congressional district, which covers San Francisco.

2021: Pelosi plays key role in infrastructure bill passage

In 2021, Pelosi played a key role in the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

2021: Pelosi called most powerful House speaker in U.S. history

In 2021, former Republican speaker John Boehner stated that Pelosi had been the most powerful House speaker in U.S. history.

November 29, 2022: Pelosi receives praise as most effective speaker

In November 2022, Chris Cillizza, Johnathan Bernstein, Jackie Calmes, Sarah Ferris, and Lindsay M. Chervinsky wrote that Pelosi was the "most effective speaker ever" and "greatest speaker in history", regarding her as one of the most powerful speakers in modern U.S. history.

November 29, 2022: Pelosi named speaker emerita

On November 29, 2022, the Steering and Policy Committee of the House Democratic Caucus honorarily named Nancy Pelosi "speaker emerita" in the upcoming 118th U.S. Congress.