Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as speaker of the House, announced on Nov. 6 that she would be retiring after 20 terms in Congress. It was a long time coming.

Pelosi, 85, said in a video to her constituents that she would not be seeking reelection in 2026 and would leave at the end of her term after nearly four decades in office.

For some, the announcement means it’s time to celebrate her storied career. For others, including myself, it’s a reminder that she should have done this ages ago.

Had Pelosi retired in the 2010s, she would have allowed new people to bring new ideas to the Democratic Party during the start of the MAGA era. Instead, she clung to power, even as it became evident that the party wasn’t improving under her leadership.

Pelosi accomplished a lot, but people will only remember that she stayed too long

Two things can be true: Pelosi has been a monumental figure in American politics, and she didn’t know when to leave.

As House speaker, Pelosi aided then-President Barack Obama in getting the Affordable Care Act through Congress. She led both impeachment inquiries into President Donald Trump. She was also instrumental in getting President Joe Biden to step away from his reelection campaign.

Unfortunately, Pelosi will be remembered more for the fact that she stayed in office long after it was time to go, instead of leaving on a high note after her first stint as speaker. She’s been battling a low favorability rating for years, even among Democrats. Her leadership during the past several years clearly hasn’t led to more Democratic victories, despite what Republicans would have you believe.

If Pelosi had left ages ago, she would have left her seat open for another young Democrat – likely one with more progressive values – to come in and have a shot at transforming the party. She was already facing several challenges in the 2026 midterm elections, including Saikat Chakrabarti, former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York.

A recent poll paid for by Chakrabarti’s campaign found that more than half of respondents who had supported Pelosi in the past thought it was “time for a change.” When even the people who had supported you now say it’s time for you to bow out, you need to listen.

Pelosi made the right decision. More Democrats should follow her lead.

Hopefully, Pelosi’s departure from Congress will inspire other Democrats to consider that it’s time for them to exit the political stage.

The current Congress is the third oldest since 1789, according to an NBC News analysis. The median age of Democrats in the House is 57.6 and in the Senate is 66. But it’s not a matter of age. It’s the fact that Democrats are losing consistently, and it’s time for new ideas.

While Democratic candidates had a promising showing in the Nov. 4 elections, it isn’t because the same tactics they’ve employed for the duration of the Trump era finally worked. It’s because there were young, quality candidates who understood what voters wanted and ran campaigns that led people to show up and vote.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, who's turning 75, needs to take Pelosi’s lead and not run for reelection in 2028, lest he faces a competitive challenger in the primary election. Schumer, who has been in office for more than 40 years, made it clear during the New York City elections that he no longer has his finger on the pulse when he refused to endorse the Democratic nominee for mayor.

Other party leaders, like former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, and Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, would also be wise to take a page from Pelosi’s playbook and step away from the party.

If Democratic leaders truly love this country and want their party to succeed, they will understand that real leadership means knowing when it’s time to retire. Pelosi clearly overstayed her welcome; hopefully, other Democrats begin to understand when it’s time to leave Washington.

Follow USA TODAY columnist Sara Pequeño on X, formerly Twitter: @sara__pequeno

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nancy Pelosi was monumental. People will only remember she stayed too long. | Opinion

Reporting by Sara Pequeño, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect