On Tuesday, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s aides swiftly dismissed any inquiries from reporters regarding her potential retirement from politics.

Speaking in San Francisco, Pelosi faced the press amidst swirling speculation about her possible decision not to run for reelection next year.

While attending a rally for Proposition 50, a California ballot measure, staffers instructed journalists that their questions must remain focused on the event’s topic. When the conversation shifted to her future political intentions, Pelosi promptly exited the interaction.

Rumors about Pelosi’s retirement surfaced on Monday, just ahead of a pivotal election in California that could potentially add five new congressional seats for Democrats.

Californians are set to vote on Proposition 50, dubbed the ‘Election Rigging Response Act,’ which aims to temporarily permit Democrats to redraw district lines in response to earlier Republican-favored redistricting in Texas.

A Pelosi spokesman brushed aside rumors of his boss’s retirement, noting that ‘Speaker Pelosi is fully focused on her mission to win the Yes on 50 special election in California on Tuesday,’ 

‘She urges all Californians to join in that mission on the path to taking back the House for the Democrats,’ Pelosi spokesperson Ian Krager said.

If successful, the measure may be another gem in Pelosi’s crown of achievements over a nearly 40-year career in politics. During that time, she has served as Speaker of the House twice and was the first woman to serve in the role.

Pelosi already has a radical progressive challenger running against her in the Democratic primary who would surely receive a boost from her departure from the race.

Saikat Chakrabarti, who was the chief engineer of New York City progressive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s victory in 2018 which rocked the party establishment, is now readying for a political upset of his own.

Yet, he may be snubbed of an endorsement from Pelosi if she leaves her seat, as she may choose to back California State Senator Scott Wiener as her successor.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., middle, speaks to reporters after a campaign event on Proposition 50 in San Francisco, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.

Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks during a prayer rally on the ninth day of a federal government shutdown in the courtyard of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill on October 09, 2025 in Washington, DC

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her husband, Paul Pelosi, arrive at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner, on Dec. 7, 2019, in Washington

 Proposition 50 is the brainchild of California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and would take the power of redrawing the map away from the bipartisan California Citizens Redistricting Commission until 2030 and return it to the state legislature, which is controlled by the Democrats.

Pelosi, 85, has served in Congress since 1987. If the rumors are true and Pelosi does not seek another term in Congress, she would be the second top Democrat to announce a retirement this year.

New York Democrat Jerrold Nadler announced the end of his political career at the beginning of September.

In a statement issued by his office at the time, Nadler noted that the ‘decision has not been easy,’ but that ‘it is the right time to pass the torch to a new generation.’

A departure from the arena by Pelosi, when paired with Nadler’s retirement, will undoubtedly signify a generational shift for the Democrat party, as concerns over the age of elected leaders have plagued political leaders of both parties.

Pelosi herself fell during a trip to Luxembourg in December and subsequently underwent hip replacement surgery.