On Thursday, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi revealed she will not pursue reelection in 2026. At 85 years old, Pelosi has been a prominent figure on Capitol Hill since 1987, and she holds the distinction of being the first and only woman to serve as Speaker of the House. Over her decades-long career, she has represented San Francisco, a city known for its thriving tech industry, witnessing its significant transformation throughout her tenure.

In a heartfelt social media message, she expressed, “With gratitude, I look forward to my final year serving as your representative.” She added, “As we move ahead, my message to the city I cherish is this: San Francisco, recognize your power. We have made history. We have made progress.” Pelosi initially became the House’s first female speaker from 2007 to 2011, a period that included much of President Barack Obama’s first term.

She reclaimed the gavel in 2019 during President Donald Trump’s administration, maintaining her leadership until 2023. Pelosi’s tenure as one of the longest-serving leaders in the US House of Representatives includes two decades at the helm of the House Democrats. As the most influential woman in congressional history, her decision to step down has left Republicans contemplating the departure of a formidable opponent.

‘The retirement of Nancy Pelosi is a great thing for America,’ Trump told Fox News. ‘She was Evil, Corrupt, and only focused on bad things for our country. She was rapidly losing control of her party, and it was never coming back.’ ‘I’m very honored she impeached me twice and failed miserably twice. Nancy Pelosi is a highly overrated politician.’ The president and Pelosi feuded extensively over the years. Trump has called Pelosi an assortment of degrading nicknames and alleged she’s corrupt.

Pelosi, meanwhile, led two impeachment attempts against the 79-year-old president. She also famously tore his State of the Union speech in half in front of millions of Americans watching at home in a defiant act of opposition during Trump’s first term. Their relationship hit new lows after the January 6 riots, during which Pelosi was in the Capitol before being evacuated to a nearby military base.

During the riot, the pro-Trump protestors broke into the Democrat’s office and rummaged through her belongings, videos of the incident show. The president and Pelosi later blamed each other for not authorizing the deployment of the National Guard to protect the Capitol complex in a timely manner.

The former speaker also played a central role in the Democratic Party’s soul-searching amid President Joe Biden’s shaky presidential campaign. She reportedly insisted that Biden step aside, and during TV hits urged the aging president to reconsider. Jill Biden, who has had a 50-year friendship with Pelosi, later called the ex-speaker’s conduct before the election ‘disappointing.’