Nancy Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi is a member of the Democratic Party and has represented San Francisco in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1987. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, into a political family, she is the daughter of Thomas D'Alesandro Jr., who served as a congressman and Mayor of Baltimore. Pelosi graduated from Trinity College in Washington, D.C., in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science before moving to San Francisco, where she became active in Democratic Party organizing. She served as chair of the California Democratic Party from 1981 to 1983 and was first elected to Congress in a 1987 special election. Throughout her tenure, Pelosi made history as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, holding the office from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023. Her leadership was defined by the passage of landmark legislation, including the Affordable Care Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. She also played a pivotal role in the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and led the House through two impeachments of President Donald Trump. After 20 years leading the House Democrats, she stepped down from her leadership role in 2023 but continues to represent California's 11th district.

Pelosi's policy platform is centered on liberal and progressive priorities. In healthcare, she is a staunch advocate for the Affordable Care Act and has worked to expand coverage, lower prescription drug costs, and increase funding for medical research. On the economy, she supports strengthening the middle class through investments in infrastructure, education, and clean energy, while advocating for progressive taxation and financial regulations. Her environmental positions emphasize the urgency of addressing climate change through the transition to renewable energy. Regarding immigration, Pelosi supports comprehensive reform including a pathway to citizenship for 'Dreamers' and opposes a physical border wall in favor of 'smart' security measures. Her foreign policy often focuses on human rights, particularly in China, and she has historically advocated for multilateral diplomacy over unilateral military intervention.