Editing Nancy Pelosi (section)

== Early political career ==
[[File:Nancy Pelosi 1993 congressional photo.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Pelosi as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1993|left]]

Phillip Burton died in 1983 and his wife, [[Sala Burton]], won a [[by election|special election]] to fill the remainder of her husband's congressional term. She was then reelected to two more terms in her own right. Burton became ill with cancer in late 1986 and decided not to run for reelection in 1988. She wanted Pelosi to succeed her, guaranteeing Pelosi the support of the Burtons' contacts.<ref name="nationnewface">{{cite news |url=http://www.thenation.com/doc/20010806/nichols2/2 |title=Is this the new face of the Democratic Party? |first=John |last=Nichols |date=July 26, 2001 |work=[[The Nation]] |access-date=February 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606143908/http://www.thenation.com/doc/20010806/nichols2/2 |archive-date=June 6, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Burton died on February 1, 1987, one month after being sworn in for a second full term. Pelosi won the [[1987 California's 5th congressional district special election|special election]] to succeed her, defeating Democratic San Francisco supervisor [[Harry Britt]] on April 7, 1987, and Republican Harriet Ross in a June 2 runoff. Pelosi took office a week later.<ref>{{Cite news |agency=[[Associated Press]] |title=Democrat Elected in San Francisco |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 3, 1987 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/03/us/democrat-elected-in-san-francisco.html |access-date=February 17, 2017 |archive-date=February 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209030954/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=It began in Baltimore: The life and times of Nancy Pelosi |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=January 2, 2007 |url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/It-began-in-Baltimore-The-life-and-times-of-2660281.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429202942/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F2007%2F01%2F02%2FMNG8QNBFNN1.DTL&type=politics |archive-date=April 29, 2011 |access-date=January 20, 2019}}</ref> In the primary, Britt, a gay man, had courted San Francisco's sizable homosexual population by arguing that he would be better than Pelosi at addressing the [[HIV/AIDS]] epidemic.<ref name="FightForSF1">{{cite web |last1=Martin |first1=Jonathan |title=Inside Nancy Pelosi's Fight For San Francisco |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/09/07/why-pelosi-might-run-again-00114342 |website=POLITICO |access-date=October 30, 2023|date=September 7, 2023}}</ref> Pelosi had held many campaign events, amassed a large number of campaign volunteers, and fundraised prolifically for her campaign.<ref name="economist2023">{{cite web |title=Nancy Pelosi seeks re-election; Take a look at her career from humble housewife to most powerful woman politician in US |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/nancy-pelosi-seeks-re-election-take-a-look-at-her-career-from-humble-housewife-to-most-powerful-woman-politician-in-us/articleshow/103540289.cms |website=The Economic Times |access-date=4 May 2024 |date=9 September 2023}}</ref>

Pelosi has continued to represent approximately the same area of San Francisco for her entire congressional career, despite the boundaries shifting marginally in decennial post-[[reapportionment]] [[redistricting]]s. This area has been represented in the House by Democrats uninterruptedly since 1949, and is strongly Democratic-leaning (as of 2006, 13% of registered voters in the boundaries of Pelosi's district were Republican). It has not seen a serious Republican congressional contender since the early 1960s.<ref name="Edward1"/> Pelosi has been reelected to the House 18 times<ref>{{cite web |last1=Quinn |first1=Melissa |last2=Killion |first2=Nikole |last3=Yilek |first3=Caitlin |title=Nancy Pelosi stepping aside as House Democratic leader, clearing the way for "new generation" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/nancy-pelosi-stepping-down-house-democratic-leader/ |website=CBS News |access-date=October 25, 2023 |date=November 17, 2022}}</ref> without any substantive opposition. Unlike in her 1987 campaign, Pelosi has not participated in candidates' debates in her reelection campaigns. In her first seven reelection campaigns (from 1988 through 2004), she won an average of 80% of the vote.<ref name="Edward1">{{cite news|first=Edward|last=Epstein|date=October 20, 2006 |url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/CAMPAIGN-2006-Eighth-Congressional-District-3-2486421.php |title=Campaign 2006: Eighth Congressional District / three challengers fight for Pelosi seat|newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|page=B-1|access-date=October 29, 2006|archive-date=August 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826152248/https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/CAMPAIGN-2006-Eighth-Congressional-District-3-2486421.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the time that Pelosi entered office, there were only 23 women in the House.<ref name="Calmes LATimes" />

When Pelosi entered office, the AIDS epidemic was at a dire point.<ref name="Najjar1">{{cite web |last1=Najjar |first1=Ruqaiyah |title=How Two Pandemics Define Pelosi's 35-Year Political Career |url=https://nowthisnews.com/news/nancy-pelosi-covid-19-aids-pandemic |website=NowThis News |access-date=October 30, 2023|date=November 17, 2022 |archive-date=October 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030145054/https://nowthisnews.com/news/nancy-pelosi-covid-19-aids-pandemic |url-status=dead }}</ref> San Francisco was greatly affected; its large population of gay men was the epidemic's initial epicenter.<ref>{{cite web |title=40 Years of AIDS in SF |url=https://www.ucsf.edu/news/40-years-aids-sf |publisher=University of California San Francisco |access-date=October 30, 2023|date=2021}}</ref> Beginning in her first term, Pelosi became a prominent congressional advocate on behalf of those impacted by HIV/AIDS.<ref name="Najjar1"/> Shortly after she took office, she hired a gay man as her congressional office's director of AIDS policy. In her first floor speech, Pelosi promised that she would be an advocate in the fight against what she called "the crisis of AIDS." With great stigma around the subject, some in her party privately chastised her for publicly associating herself with it.<ref name="FightForSF1"/> Pelosi co-authored the [[Ryan White CARE Act]], which allocated funding dedicated to providing treatment and services for those impacted by HIV/AIDS.<ref name="Najjar1"/> President [[George H. W. Bush]] signed the bill into law in December 1990.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regional Dispute Delays AIDS Bill Until Final Day of the Session |url=https://library.cqpress.com/cqalmanac/document.php?id=cqal06-1421158 |website=library.cqpress.com |publisher=CQ Almanac Online Edition |access-date=October 30, 2023 |date=2006}}</ref>

Pelosi voted for the [[Abandoned Shipwrecks Act|Abandoned Shipwrecks Act of 1987]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS S 858, ABANDONED SHIPWRECK … -- House Vote #532 -- March 29, 1988 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/h532 |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}</ref> The Act asserts United States title to certain abandoned shipwrecks located on or embedded in submerged lands under state jurisdiction, and transfers title to the respective state, thereby empowering states to manage these cultural and historical resources more efficiently, with the goal of preventing [[Treasure hunting|treasure hunters]] and salvagers from damaging them. President [[Ronald Reagan]] signed it into law on April 28, 1988.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laws - Division of Historical Resources - Florida Department of State |url=https://dos.fl.gov/historical/archaeology/underwater/laws/#:~:text=On%2028%20April%201988,%20President,authority%20over%20those%20abandoned%20shipwrecks. |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=dos.fl.gov}}</ref> 

In March 1988, Pelosi voted for the [[Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987]] (as well as to override President [[Ronald Reagan]]'s veto).<ref>{{Cite web |title=To Pass S 557, Civil Rights Restoration Act, A Bill... – House Vote #506 – Mar 2, 1988 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/h506 |website=GovTrack.us |access-date=May 17, 2020 |archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114194637/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/h506 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=To Pass, Over President Reagan's Veto, S 557, Civil Rights ... – House Vote #527 – Mar 22, 1988|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/h527 |website=GovTrack.us |access-date=May 17, 2020 |archive-date=January 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114194636/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/h527 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Molotsky |first=Irvin |date=March 23, 1988 |title=House and Senate Vote to Override Reagan On Rrights |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/23/us/house-and-senate-vote-to-override-reagan-on-rights.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308185652/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/23/us/house-and-senate-vote-to-override-reagan-on-rights.html |archive-date=March 8, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=January 3, 2020}}</ref>

Pelosi helped shape the [[Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act]], working with California Senator [[Dianne Feinstein]] and New York Congressman [[Chuck Schumer]]. It became law in 1994.<ref name="economist2023"/> Pelosi also held chairs on important [[List of United States House of Representatives committees|committees]], such as the [[House Appropriations Committee]] and the [[House Intelligence Committee]].<ref name="economist2023"/>

In 2001, Pelosi was elected the House minority whip, second-in-command to Minority Leader [[Dick Gephardt]]. She was the first woman in U.S. history to hold that post.<ref>{{cite news |last=Eilperin |first=Juliet |date=October 11, 2001 |title=Democrats Pick Pelosi as House Whip; Top Rank Ever for Woman in Congress |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/10/11/democrats-pick-pelosi-as-house-whip/119bfb36-102c-4a67-bda1-03b0894c8edb/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915031953/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/10/11/democrats-pick-pelosi-as-house-whip/119bfb36-102c-4a67-bda1-03b0894c8edb/ |archive-date=September 15, 2019 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=March 15, 2022}}</ref> Pelosi defeated [[John Lewis]] and [[Steny Hoyer]] for the position. A strong fundraiser, she used campaign contributions to help persuade other members of Congress to support her candidacy.<ref name="LastBattle1"/>

In 2002, Pelosi opposed the [[Iraq Resolution]] authorizing President [[George W. Bush]] to use [[2003 invasion of Iraq|military force against Iraq]], which passed the House on a 296–133 vote.<ref name="HouseClerk">{{cite web |title=Final vote results for roll call 455 |publisher=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives|Office of the Clerk]] |date=October 10, 2002 |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll455.xml |access-date=November 12, 2006 |archive-date=January 15, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040115043607/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll455.xml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=MitchellIraq>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/10/international/house-passes-iraq-resolution-with-296-to-133-vote.html|title=House Passes Iraq Resolution With 296 to 133 Vote|last1=Mitchell|first1=Alison|date=October 10, 2002|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=May 13, 2019|last2=Hulse|first2=Carl|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103150108/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/10/international/house-passes-iraq-resolution-with-296-to-133-vote.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She said, "unilateral use of force without first exhausting every diplomatic remedy and other remedies and making a case to the American people will be harmful to our war on terrorism."<ref name="House2">{{cite press release |last=Pelosi |first=Nancy |title=Pelosi: Unilateral Use of Force Will Be Harmful to the War on Terrorism |publisher=[[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] |date=October 10, 2002 |url=http://www.house.gov/pelosi/UnilateralUseofForce101002.htm |access-date=November 12, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061102092119/http://www.house.gov/pelosi/UnilateralUseofForce101002.htm |archive-date=November 2, 2006}}</ref>