Nancy Pelosi announced she will not seek reelection to the U.S. House, closing a nearly 40-year run representing San Francisco and her trailblazing tenure as the first woman speaker. In a video message, the 85-year-old said she’ll finish her final year and urged her city to know its power. Her decision reverberated through Washington and California, triggering a succession scramble. Pelosi’s legacy spans passage of the Affordable Care Act and other landmark laws, two Trump impeachments, and the Jan. 6 investigation, even as she remains a formidable party fundraiser.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.