First elected to Congress in 1987, Pelosi made history in 2007 by becoming the first woman to speak in the House of Representatives, a position she held again after the 2018 elections.

At 85, Nancy Pelosi is the only one woman to have served as Speaker of the US House of Representatives, and by announcing that she will not seek reelection to her seat, she brings to close nearly four decades of an influential political career and one of the most powerful voices in the Democratic Party.

“For nearly four decades, Nancy Pelosi has served the American people and worked to make our country better. No one was more skilled at bringing people together and getting legislation passed, and I will always be grateful for her support of the Affordable Care Act,” Obama wrote in a message on " nation's future," he said. Harris, for her part, highlighted the congresswoman's "tenacity, conviction, and legacy" and thanked her for her "friendship" and "service." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who succeeded her as party leader, shared a lengthy letter in which he applauded her "dedication" and "leadership," as well as her "strength." and dignity.”

Most Democratic leaders shared messages of affection for Pelosi on social media, highlighting her decades of public service.

Her last service to the Democratic cause, before announcing her retirement in an emotional video addressed to her district of San Francisco, was to champion Proposition 50, a reform of California's electoral map approved in a referendum last Tuesday.