Her decision to close a long, powerful chapter leaves a big void within the Democratic Party and US politics.
After nearly 40 years of dedication, Nancy Pelosi, 85, has announced that she will not run for re-election after her term ends in 2027. This is the final milestone of the legendary political career of the woman who was once known as the "steelamam" of the US, who contributed to shaping the modern Democratic Party.
Pelosi entered Congress in 1987, when the US House of Representatives had few women and black people. She has gradually turned the Democratic Party into a more open home, a place to speak for gender equality, immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community.
As Speaker of the House of Representatives, she led the House of Representatives through a series of iconic laws such as the Affordable Care Act, the pandemic relief package, or the federal Infrastructure Investment Law.
However, as the younger generation in the party increasingly wanted to change, Ms. Pelosi chose to leave in honor, avoiding a "internal war" that was predicted to be fierce. If she continues to run, observers believe that the race in California will be a fierce battle between young candidates who are hungry for power.
In addition to her legislative role, Ms. Pelosi is also a master strategist behind the scenes. This past summer, she was said to be the central figure in the campaign to persuade President Joe Biden to withdraw from the re-election, a risky flag that helped the Democrats avoid a last-minute confidence crisis.
It was this move that reinforced Ms. Pelosis image as a Strategic architect of the party who not only does politics, but also knows how to attack at the right time.
Despite her 85, Pelosi is still a powerful fundraising machine and a tireless policy campaigner. She recently made a big contribution to the campaign to mobilize voters to support California's redistricting plan, helping Democrats strengthen their position in the most populous state in the US.
pelosi's withdrawal also marked a turning point for San Francisco, where she was seen as the "champion of power".
She has supported a series of big names in US politics - from Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Gavin Newsom to Senator Adam Schiff.
Now, with pelosi leaving, her race for the House of Representatives in California promises to be a fierce confrontation, with many emerging young faces such as State Sen. Scott Wiener, Supervisor Connie Chan or former assistant of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Saikat Chakrabarti.
Not only is she the creator of major decisions, Ms. Pelosi is also a symbol of faith and determination. Despite being repeatedly attacked by conservatives, she always affirmed that Catholicism is a "guiding principle" in her political journey, and often said: "I pray for President Donald Trump every day".
When leaving the Capitol Palace, Ms. Pelosi left behind a huge legacy of power, bravery and pioneering.
