Nancy Pelosi
Awards & Honours
55
Awards Won
6
Honours
7
Rankings
6
Covers
4
Records
Nancy Pelosi holds a unique place in American political history as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House and the first woman to lead a major party in Congress. She is the only speaker in modern times to reclaim the gavel after losing it. Her legislative record includes shepherding the Affordable Care Act through a deeply divided Congress, a feat many considered impossible. She has appeared on the TIME 100 list 17 times and has been ranked among Forbes' Most Powerful Women for over a decade. In 2024, she received both the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal, capping a career of historic firsts and landmark achievements.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
National Women's Hall of Fame
Inducted for her contributions to American politics
California Hall of Fame
Inducted for her public service
Key to the City of San Francisco
Awarded for her service to the city
Key to the City of Baltimore
Awarded for her public service
Portrait unveiled at U.S. Capitol
First female speaker's official portrait
Nancy Pelosi Drive
Street named after her in San Francisco
Rankings & Lists
Forbes Most Powerful Women
Forbes Most Powerful Women
Forbes Most Powerful Women
Forbes Most Powerful Women
Forbes Most Powerful Women
Gallup's Most Admired Women
Gallup's Most Admired Women
Magazine Covers
TIME
2007-03-26
Madam Speaker
TIME
2018-11-12
The Return of Nancy Pelosi
TIME
2019-01-14
The Power of Nancy Pelosi
Rolling Stone
2018-11-01
Nancy Pelosi: The Most Powerful Woman in American History
Vogue
2007-02-01
The Speaker
Vanity Fair
2018-12-01
Nancy Pelosi: The Art of the Deal
Records & Feats
First woman to serve as Speaker of the House
Elected in January 2007, Nancy Pelosi became the first female Speaker in U.S. history.
First former speaker to reclaim the gavel since 1955
After losing the speakership in 2011, Pelosi was elected again in 2019, a feat not achieved since Sam Rayburn.
Longest-serving House Democratic Leader
Pelosi led House Democrats for 20 years, from 2003 to 2023, the longest tenure of any party leader in the House.
First woman to lead a major party in Congress
Elected House Minority Leader in 2002, she was the first woman to lead a party caucus in either chamber.