Congresswoman Simon on Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi’s Retirement from Congress

OAKLAND, CA – Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) released the below statement following Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi’s announcement that she will retire from Congress at the end of her current term. 

“Nancy Pelosi has never been a politician of convenience. 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. Her decision not to seek another term does not mark her exit; it marks a new type of presence. Her voice, her wisdom, and her command are still needed, now more than ever.

“We are living through a battle between good and evil. A battle between those who want a nation that serves the common good and those who are actively trading justice for power. In this fight, Nancy Pelosi remains a north star. She reminds us that governance, at its core, is a moral act.

“As a newer member of Congress and a daughter of the Bay, I have learned from her what it means to serve without fear. She has shown that care can be strategic, that discipline is a form of love, and that leadership requires a steady faith in people. Her mentorship has shaped how I lead and how I will keep fighting.

“Her record is unmatched. But her impact runs deeper; it lives in the movements she inspired, in the women she lifted, and in the communities that saw themselves reflected in her work. We will need her counsel, her fire, and her voice in this next year as we defend everything she helped build.

“Speaker Pelosi’s story is not finished. It is still being written in the conscience of this Congress and in the fight for the soul of this country.

###