SAN FRANCISCO — Nancy Pelosi’s decision to retire was such a closely-held secret that she filmed two versions of the video she released on Thursday — one to tee up a reelection campaign and the other that she ultimately posted.
Some of her closest political allies were not informed until late the night before, some not until about five minutes beforehand, according to a Pelosi adviser and two allies granted anonymity to discuss the run-up to her announcement.
For months, Pelosi, the first female speaker of the House and one of the most powerful women in modern American politics, had come under pressure in her district to step aside, now 85 and at one end of her party’s widening generational divide. Most observers here expected she would not run again in 2026.Few could say for sure, however, because with the exception of a handful of her immediate family members and close advisers, Pelosi had worked to keep everyone in her hometown guessing.
Pelosi’s entire career stood on her reputation as a sharp tactician, a steady vote counter with an iron grip on her caucus. Her announcement Thursday was yet another act of highly controlled stagecraft.
“She was going to make an announcement on her own terms, her own turf,” said an adviser. “We kept a very small circle.”
Fewer than 10 of Pelosi’s family members and closest advisers knew what her decision was until the night before, according to an adviser. That evening, she called a few power brokers to share her decision, the adviser said, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie.
Pelosi didn’t even hint at her impending exit during a Wednesday afternoon conference call with California’s House delegation, according to three people in the meeting. Nor did she tip her hand when she spoke up during a conference call with the full Democratic Caucus earlier Wednesday, when she delivered one of her trademark attack lines, described by three people familiar with the call, saying of Republicans and cuts to food assistance: “They pray in church on Sunday and prey on people the rest of the week.”
Instead, the San Francisco political universe learned about Pelosi’s news early Thursday morning when she posted a lengthy and emotional video to social media.
Her announcement prompted an outpouring of tributes from prominent Democrats, from former President Joe Biden to Newsom. Even some conservatives like Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and former Speaker Paul Ryan offered kind words. But the occasion also prompted top Republicans — who will be deprived of a chief antagonist after she leaves office — to renew their caricatures of Pelosi as an out-of-touch coastal liberal.
The video, more of a love letter to Pelosi’s hometown than a retirement message, was filmed this past weekend. Because she made two versions, even those who knew about the video before it was posted were unsure of her decision.
“I want you, my fellow San Franciscans, to be the first to know: I will not be seeking reelection to Congress,” Pelosi said in the video. “With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative.”
Said Rep. Mark Takano of California: “I was prepared for a message either way.”
Pelosi, if she ran again, would have faced a tough field of primary challengers next year, and a wing of the Democratic Party calling for generational change. Those vying to succeed her include Scott Wiener, a prominent state lawmaker, and Saikat Chakrabarti, a wealthy former tech executive and chief of staff to New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
But Pelosi’s decision to step aside had been in the works for months, according to an ally familiar with her planning.
Then, Pelosi reaped a gift with her timing, waiting until after Tuesday’s special election, when California voters overwhelmingly approved a Democratic gerrymander of the state’s congressional map.
It was a victory for Pelosi — and a thumb in the eye to President Donald Trump, who pushed Texas Republicans to redraw their map first. Trump told Fox News on Thursday that she was “evil, corrupt, and only focused on bad things for our country.”
But it was Pelosi’s party that bested Trump in California on Tuesday. She raised tens of millions of dollars and spent the fall crisscrossing the state to campaign for California’s redistricting measure, which could deliver Democrats five additional seats next year.
On election night, Pelosi cheered the outcome with about 100 union volunteers and supporters on the patio of a barbecue restaurant in San Francisco’s Castro district. Most had no idea Pelosi would retire 48 hours later — and several said they hoped she would run again.
“There was a part of me that expected this at some point. I was frankly holding out a little hope that we would get through another election cycle,” said Rudy Gonzalez, a leader of San Francisco’s building trades union and close Pelosi ally.
He added, “No matter who gets elected in the future, nobody is going to be able to fill those heels.”
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