Democrats Might Miss Pelosi More Than They Expect

"For much of the 21st century, people disparaging the Democratic Party, and particularly its moderate or Establishment wing, have accused it of lacking courage or spine. No one said that, however, about one of the party's enduring pillars of strength, longtime House leader and sometime Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who just announced she would retire from Congress at the end of her current term."

"Though she is the epitome of a party loyalist, Pelosi has never hesitated to push Democrats in the direction she thought best. At a time when Senate Democrats were stampeding to back George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq, Pelosi helped make the House Democratic caucus a stronghold of antiwar sentiment, and later, as Speaker, helped wind that war down."

Nancy Pelosi served 39 years in the House, including 20 years as Democratic leader and multiple terms as Speaker. She combined vote‑counting skill, political acumen and toughness in critical moments. Pelosi helped make the House Democratic caucus a center of antiwar sentiment during the Iraq debate and later helped wind that war down. She prevented abandonment of the Affordable Care Act when Democrats lost their Senate supermajority in 2010. She managed a fragile House majority early in the Biden administration with minimal public drama and reportedly influenced Biden to abandon a doomed reelection bid. Pelosi now plans to retire.

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