- Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday she will not be seeking re-election as House Democratic leader.
- Pelosi said "the hour has come for a new generation" to take on House leadership.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Democratic colleagues and other leading political figures on Thursday hailed a historic career as the first female Speaker of the House announced her decision to step down from her leadership role.
Pelosi has spent 19 years leading the party, becoming only the second person in history to lose the speaker's gavel before reclaiming it during the anti-Trump wave of 2018.
Reactions from Democrats and Republicans alike were largely positive, expressing their gratitude towards Pelosi's career in the House for the last 35 years. Pelosi said she will remain a member of Congress. Since Democrats lost the House majority, she would have been relegated to House Minority Leader.
President Joe Biden tweeted that when he thinks of the Speaker, he "thinks of dignity."
"History will note her as the most consequential Speaker of the House of Representatives in history – she is first, last, and always for the people. America owes her a debt of gratitude for her service, patriotism, and dignity," Biden's tweet continued.
Republican and former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan tweeted his congratulations to Pelosi on her "historic" time in the House."
"I tip my cap as I welcome @speakerpelosi to the former speaker's club and congratulate her on a historic career in the House," Ryan tweeted.
Another Republican and former Speaker of the House, John Boehner, celebrated Pelosi's tenure on Twitter.
"Congratulations @SpeakerPelosi on a remarkable, historic run of service in the People's House. We were able to disagree without being disagreeable. You've been unfailingly gracious to me and my family," Boehner tweeted.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who got choked up and a little teary eyed as he walked past Pelosi's office in the US Capitol, told reporters she was an incredible ally.
"One of her famous expressions, which I have tried to carry out in the Senate and learn from her, is, 'In unity there is strength,'" Schumer said as he left the House chamber.
The key things Schumer said he learned from the 18-term California Democrat were about rallying people to the cause. "Create a team. Pay attention to every member. And have everyone understand that we're only as good as the team," he said.
Schumer said of the tools he took away from their long-running relationship. He added, "I'm going to continue to seek her guidance."
Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California said Pelosi was one in a million.
"There will never be another like her,'' he told reporters waiting outside the Speaker's Lobby. "And we all feel just so fortunate to have served with the greatest speaker in American history."
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat who is expected to be the next Speaker of the House, released a statement about how the country "is unquestionably better off for her extraordinary leadership."
"Nancy Pelosi's historic ascension to become the first woman Speaker of the House will forever inspire our nation on the power of possibility," he said. "It has been a tremendous honor to twice place her name in nomination for Speaker of the House on behalf of the Democratic Caucus."
Rep. Debbie Dingell commented on Pelosi's reputation as a fierce fighter, even on occasion with fellow Democrats. Dingell's late husband, John, the longest-serving House member in history, had infamous clashes with his California colleague. But the two sides were also able to work together, especially on health care and automobile issues.
"Look I've been on both sides of Nancy Pelosi, it's much more pleasant when you're on the good side of her. But she's tough, she listens, and she delivers," Dingell told reporters. "The thing about Nancy is she took time to understand everybody's perspective and knew when to lower the hammer. And I didn't have the hammer lowered on my head often."
Congressional Progressive Caucus chair Pramila Jayapal, one of the change-seeking House Democrats who's butted heads with Pelosi over the years, thanked her for breaking barriers along the way.
"As an immigrant woman of color, I know that my presence here — and the presence of so many other women and people of color in the Capitol — would not be possible without Speaker Pelosi's example. She paved the way for all of us, and for a generation of girls to see themselves in the highest levels of leadership in this country," Jayapal wrote in an official statement.
Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, who called for new leadership earlier this year amid frustration that her congressional stock trading proposal remained backburnered, said Pelosi's speech was "beautiful."
"I think it was incredibly touching," Spanbeger told Insider, adding that the sweeping address "spoke to a woman whose entire life has been impacted by this place."
Here are other reactions from prominent political figures on Twitter.
—Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 17, 2022
—Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) November 17, 2022
—Senator Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) November 17, 2022
—Charlie Crist (@CharlieCrist) November 17, 2022
—Valerie Jarrett (@ValerieJarrett) November 17, 2022
—Tal Kopan (@TalKopan) November 17, 2022
—Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) November 17, 2022
—Rep. Pete Aguilar (@RepPeteAguilar) November 17, 2022
—Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) November 17, 2022
—Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) November 17, 2022
—Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) November 17, 2022