Pelosi, McConnell Among Retiring Congressional Leaders
Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell are leaving Congress as 11 senators and 60 House members decline re-election bids.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Political Parties
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Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate leader Mitch McConnell have announced they are retiring from Congress. Their departures are part of a wider wave in which 11 senators and 60 House members have said they will not seek re-election.
Why it matters
The exits reshape congressional leadership at a time when Republican Party dynamics have shifted and Democrats may see a substantial midterm gain. Turnover of this scale will determine which members hold influence in the 120th Congress.
Eleven senators and 60 House members will not seek re-election, according to the tally in the report. McConnell's 17 years as Senate leader is the longest tenure in congressional history, though the outcome of the November 3 midterms remains unknown.
The players
Nancy Pelosi
A longtime California Democrat who served as House Speaker in two separate stints and was elected 20 times in a row.
Mitch McConnell
A Kentucky Republican who led the Senate for 17 years, the longest tenure in congressional history.
The details
Nancy Pelosi, 85, served as House Speaker in 2007-2011 and 2019-2023 and was elected 20 times in a row in California. Mitch McConnell, born in 1942, led the Senate from 2007 to 2025 and spent nearly half a century in the chamber, leaving the stage in part due to health issues and mounting pressure after Trump's MAGA movement dominated the Republican Party.
Timeline
2007-2011: Pelosi serves her first term as House Speaker.
2007-2025: McConnell serves as Senate leader.
2019-2023: Pelosi serves her second term as House Speaker.
November 3, 2026: Midterm elections are held.
January 3, 2027: The 120th Congress commences.
Political Context
Growing anticipation that Democrats could replicate a 2006-style blue wave in the midterms frames these retirements. The departures of longtime leaders like McConnell come as Republicans grapple with a party increasingly shaped by Trump's MAGA movement.
Voters in districts with retiring incumbents will face open seats and new candidates in the midterms. Residents may see shifts in committee leadership and the direction of federal policy as new members take office in January 2027.
The takeaway
Leadership turnover of this magnitude signals a reshaping of both parties, and voters should track how the midterm results change the balance of power in Congress.
What happens next
The midterm elections on November 3, 2026, will determine the membership of the 120th Congress, which begins January 3, 2027.
Further reading
Explore more on Political Parties to see how party dynamics are shaping this wave of congressional departures.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 조선일보.
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