Nancy Pelosi announces retirement from Congress

• Since stepping down from congressional leadership in 2022, Pelosi — the only woman ever to serve as House speaker — has remained an influential presence among House Democrats, and her absence will be keenly felt.
• Pelosi thanked San Franciscans for the faith they'd placed in her "and the latitude that you have given me that enabled me to shatter the marble ceiling be the first woman Speaker of the House" in a video announcing her decision.
• Her retirement is also sure to set off a political frenzy in San Francisco, with ambitious Democrats who have spent decades waiting on Pelosi, 85, to step aside now sizing up her solidly blue House district.

Driving the news: "I will not be seeking reelection to Congress," Pelosi said in her video announcement, which recapped images from throughout her career alongside San Francisco street scenes.

• "With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative," she said, adding "As we go forward, my message to the city I love is this: San Francisco, know your power."

Zoom out: The daughter of Thomas D'Alesandro Jr., a former congressman and Baltimore mayor, Pelosi served as the chair of the California Democratic party before being elected to Congress in 1987.

• First elected as House minority leader in 2002, she led the House Democratic caucus for nearly 20 years, serving as speaker from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023.
• She was known for her ability to raise huge sums for her party and as an effective legislative tactician who secured the passage of several major bills, including the Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.