By Bo Tefu | California Black Media
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi’s announcement last week that she will retire from Congress at the end of her term has prompted tributes from California lawmakers who hailed her as a trailblazer, moral force and skilled political negotiator in American politics.
Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif,), praised Pelosi’s nearly 40-year tenure representing San Francisco in Congress, highlighting her record of defending democracy, advancing women’s rights, and shaping national policy.
Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, announced she will step down at the close of her current term, ending a career marked by historic legislative achievements such as the Affordable Care Act and major infrastructure investments.
“Nancy Pelosi has never been a politician of convenience,” Simon said in a statement. “For four decades, she has stood in the storm, defending democracy, women, children, queer people, and working families with a kind of courage that cannot be taught.”
Simon said Pelosi’s decision “does not mark her exit; it marks a new type of presence,” noting that her leadership and mentorship will continue to shape new members of Congress.
Padilla called Pelosi “a torchbearer of Democratic and California values,” crediting her for breaking barriers as the first female speaker and for standing “as our nation’s chief defender against Donald Trump’s attacks on our democracy.”
He added that she was a consistent champion for LGBTQ+ rights and a steady voice through “our country’s greatest triumphs and biggest tests.”
Pelosi, who has represented San Francisco since 1987, is among the most powerful and influential Democrats in U.S. history. Her leadership defined much of the party’s agenda for decades and solidified California’s influence in national politics.
