First woman to lead a major party in Congress as House Minority Leader

On November 14, 2002, Nancy Pelosi was elected House Minority Leader by her Democratic colleagues, becoming the first woman in U.S. history to lead a major political party in Congress and the first woman to serve as House Minority Leader. She succeeded Richard Gephardt after Democrats lost additional House seats in the 2002 midterm elections.

Pelosi’s election represented a profound shift in congressional leadership norms. As Minority Leader, she controlled the House Democratic agenda, selected members for key assignments, and served as the central strategist and spokesperson opposing the Republican majority and President George W. Bush’s administration. Her ascent came amid debates over the Iraq War authorization and domestic policy priorities such as tax cuts and Medicare.

The November 14 vote was symbolically and substantively important. Symbolically, it broke a “marble ceiling” by putting a woman at the helm of a major congressional party, refuting assumptions that such posts were reserved for men. Substantively, it gave Pelosi a platform to shape national policy debates, coordinate opposition to conservative initiatives, and build the coalition that would later return Democrats to the majority in 2006. Her leadership style—combining disciplined vote counting, fundraising prowess, and strong ideological commitments—set a template for future party leaders in the House.