Nancy Pelosi, the trailblazing former Speaker of the House, has declared that she will not seek reelection in 2026. At 85, Pelosi has been a prominent figure in the corridors of Capitol Hill since she first took office in 1987. Representing the dynamic and ever-evolving city of San Francisco, she has witnessed and influenced the city’s transformation over the past four decades, particularly as it became a hub for technology and innovation.

In a heartfelt social media statement, Pelosi expressed her gratitude and reflected on her tenure. “With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative,” she shared. “As we go forward, my message to the city I love is this: San Francisco, know your power. We have made history. We have made progress.” Her words resonate with the legacy she leaves behind as the first woman to hold the position of Speaker of the House.

Pelosi first wielded the speaker’s gavel from 2007 to 2011, guiding Congress during a significant portion of President Barack Obama’s first term. She reclaimed the post in 2019 amid the tumultuous start of President Donald Trump’s tenure, serving until 2023. Her leadership, spanning two decades, cements her status as one of the longest-serving leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives and unquestionably the most influential woman in its history. As she prepares to step back, Republicans reflect on the departure of a formidable and long-standing 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.’