Pelosi Announces Retirement

The Facts

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi announced on November 6, 2025, that she will not seek reelection, ending her nearly four-decade career representing San Francisco in Congress. The 85-year-old former House Speaker will serve out the remainder of her term through January 2027.

The race to replace her has already begun, with both State Senator Scott Wiener and former AOC Chief of Staff Saikat Chakrabarti actively running. And London Breed hinted she might run, as well.

Supervisor Connie Chan is reportedly contemplating a bid, according to former Supervisor Aaron Peskin, though she has not announced her intentions.

The Context

This marks San Francisco's first competitive congressional primary since 1987, when Pelosi first won the seat.

The GrowSF Take

There's no doubt that Pelosi wielded significant influence in Washington, D.C., but many San Franciscans often felt she prioritized national politics over local needs. Her tenure saw limited progress on critical issues like housing affordability, urban development, and the fentanyl crisis—areas where San Francisco desperately needed strong advocacy.

After decades of a representative focused on national politics, voters actually have a real choice in this race. The candidates will have to not only distinguish themselves from each other but also from Pelosi's legacy. We don't know if voters will prefer an inward or outward focus, and we're eager to see how the campaigns unfold.