Nancy Pelosi Honoured at California Democratic Convention as Retirement Nears
Over the weekend, San Francisco hosted a "Nancy Pelosi-palooza" as thousands of California Democrats converged on the city for the state party's annual convention. The event doubled as a days-long celebration of Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker who is retiring at the end of her term after representing San Francisco in Congress for nearly four decades. Many Democrats regard her as a living legend, and the convention served as a tribute to her groundbreaking career.
A Trailblazing Legacy Celebrated
During the general session, a video salute traced Pelosi's journey from a stay-at-home mother to the US House of Representatives, where she shattered the marble ceiling to become the first and only woman to wield the speaker's gavel. Tote bags featuring her silhouette in rainbow colours highlighted her advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, emblazoned with her favourite aphorism: "We don't agonize, we organize."
In her remarks, the 85-year-old Pelosi, described by longtime ally Senator Adam Schiff as "almost allergic to recognition," focused not on her own achievements but on the future of the Democratic Party. She expressed "absolute certainty and confidence" that Democrats would capture the House majority in November, aided by California's new congressional maps she helped secure last fall. Pelosi declared that her successor, Hakeem Jeffries, would become the next speaker, stating, "Trump's reign of terror must end."
Praise from Prominent Figures
Over dinner and fine California wine, a slate of prominent Golden State Democrats paid tribute to Pelosi. Dolores Huerta, the 95-year-old labour leader and civil rights activist, recalled Pelosi's "iron-fist-in-a-velvet-glove" leadership, her wit, tenacity, love of dark chocolate, and seemingly preternatural need for little sleep. Colleagues hailed her as the most consequential speaker in modern history, the Baltimore-born pride of San Francisco.
Pelosi announced her retirement late last year, marking her 20th term as her last. Three Democrats—state senator Scott Wiener, city supervisor Connie Chan, and former Silicon Valley engineer Saikat Chakrabarti—are vying to succeed her, though locals argue no one can truly replace her. Wiener won the state party's endorsement during the convention, but Pelosi has not weighed in on the race.
Political Acclaim and Anecdotes
On Saturday night, Pelosi was praised for her ability to twist Republican arms into submission and go "toe-to-toe" with presidents and world leaders. Schiff quoted a staffer who said Pelosi was both doting and fearless, a grandmother who didn't hesitate to put "her four-inch Manolos up Putin's ass." California Democrats also lauded her for transforming the state into a bastion of blue, with Democrats poised to hold as many as 48 of the state's 52 House seats under new redistricting laws she championed.
Speakers shared memorable advice from Pelosi, including her maxim that in politics, you must be able to take a punch and throw a punch, "but always for the children," as recounted by California congressman Pete Aguilar. Rusty Hicks, chair of the California state party, noted Pelosi's sports analogy: in basketball, she said, "When in doubt, shoot—and always be in doubt."
Empowering Women and Final Tributes
Lieutenant governor Eleni Kounalakis recalled Pelosi's "Pelosi-ism": originally "know thy power," now "know your power," treated like the "11th commandment." Kounalakis hailed Pelosi for transforming the political landscape for women, expanding not only their numbers on Capitol Hill but their power and rank. When Pelosi was first elected in 1987, there were only 23 women in Congress; now there are 150.
In an emotional final tribute, Schiff praised Pelosi as a peerless leader with a rare talent for persuading "people to do the right thing at the right time and for the right reason." He quipped that the nickname "Iron Lady" hardly captured her resilience, saying, "Margaret Thatcher's got nothing on Nancy Pelosi." Schiff joked that if he didn't conclude quickly, Pelosi might tear up his speech as she did with Trump's State of the Union address.
Pelosi's Closing Remarks
Pelosi walked to the podium with prepared remarks but decided to speak off-the-cuff, tearing her speech in half. Visibly moved, she said, "Thank you all so much for being who you are. Just the best of it all—to win elections and to make life better for the American people." She emphasized grassroots mobilization, crediting advocacy groups like the nuns for pushing the Affordable Care Act across the finish line.
Pelosi praised San Francisco, waving off critics: "It's their problem. It's our pride." She expressed gratitude to the city for giving her the "latitude" to represent its values nationally and globally. Aware of stepping back as those values face threats, she remained undaunted, urging Democrats to "believe in the goodness of the American people." She concluded, "Hope is our resistance, and our resistance gives us hope."
