Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will conclude her four-decade career in Congress in January 2027 and will then lead the newly established Nancy Pelosi Institute for Representative Democracy at the University of California, Berkeley. Pelosi, who announced in November 2025 that she would not seek reelection in 2026, described the move as a "liberation" from partisan politics while remaining engaged in public service.
The institute, to be housed within UC Berkeley's Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science, will not be a physical landmark but rather a "programmatic" entity utilizing the university's existing facilities for courses, research, and public events. Pelosi stated that the institute is intended to be an academic concept focused on bringing together students, scholars, and public officials.
Pelosi's career in Congress representing California's 11th Congressional District began in 1987. She made history as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, holding the position from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023. She has endorsed San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan as her successor.
The nonpartisan institute aims to bolster democratic institutions, address political polarization, advance human and civil rights, and tackle policy challenges such as climate change and artificial intelligence. "The work of democracy is never finished, and securing its future is our greatest calling," Pelosi said in the university's announcement.
UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons stated that the institute aligns with the university's mission to prepare future civic leaders. "We intend to do more than simply study democracy; we are building this institute to strengthen it," Lyons said.
The initiative, which originated from discussions with Berkeley administrators and faculty approximately a year prior, will support hundreds of students annually through research, courses, and a visiting fellows program. The project has already secured over $35 million in philanthropic commitments towards a $50 million fundraising goal. Pelosi noted that raising $25 million in private donations prior to the public announcement was achieved "quite easily."
Pelosi plans to invite prominent Democrats and Republicans to speak at Berkeley and will co-teach a course on Congress with political science professor Eric Schickler. She expressed a desire for the institute to prepare future generations of public servants and uphold the principles she championed during her tenure in Congress.