Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as House speaker, said she will retire from Congress, closing a 20-term career that shaped major legislative achievements. She remained influential after stepping down from leadership, helping push Joe Biden to leave the 2024 race. Her announcement followed California’s approval of Proposition 50, a redistricting plan she backed, and immediately scrambles an open San Francisco seat she has held since 1987, with Saikat Chakrabarti and state senator Scott Wiener already in. Pelosi departs as a central force behind Obama and Biden era legislation and a foil in clashes with Donald Trump.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.