SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Nancy Pelosi, the first and only female speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, announced Thursday that she will not seek reelection, ending a congressional career that began in 1987.

In a video posted on social media, Pelosi, 85, reflected on nearly four decades in Congress. “I have truly loved serving as your voice in Congress,” she said. “With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative.”

Pelosi highlighted the historical significance of her tenure, including her role as the House’s first female speaker in 2007, and emphasized her continued commitment to the city she has represented since first being elected more than 35 years ago. “No matter what title they had bestowed upon me — speaker, leader, whip — there has been no greater honor for me than to stand on the House floor and say, ‘I speak for the people of San Francisco,’” she said.

Her announcement ends speculation that she would step down after this term, her first in decades as a rank-and-file member of Congress. Pelosi’s decision marks the conclusion of a career that has made her one of the most influential figures in Democratic politics for generations.