Nancy Pelosi announced in November that she would not run for a leadership post in the 118th Congress.

The move set the stage for a major shakeup in House Democratic leadership and marked the end of an era in Washington.

Pelosi is a towering figure in American politics with a history-making legacy of shattering glass ceilings as the first and so far only woman to be speaker of the US House of Representatives.

When she was first elected speaker in 2007, Pelosi reflected on the significance of the event and what it meant for women in the United States.

"This is an historic moment," she said in a speech after accepting the speaker's gavel. "It's an historic moment for the Congress. It's an historic moment for the women of America."

Pelosi served in the role until 2011, when Democrats lost control of the House. In 2019, she was again elected speaker after Democrats won back the House from Republicans.

A young Pelosi is seen with her mother, Annunciata D'Alesandro. Pelosi was born in Baltimore on March 26, 1940.
A young Pelosi is seen with her mother, Annunciata D'Alesandro. Pelosi was born in Baltimore on March 26, 1940.
From House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Pelosi is seen in a high school yearbook photo from when she was 18. In 1958, she graduated from the Institute of Notre Dame, an all-girls Catholic school in Baltimore.
Pelosi is seen in a high school yearbook photo from when she was 18. In 1958, she graduated from the Institute of Notre Dame, an all-girls Catholic school in Baltimore.
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Pelosi, left, and her mother watch as her father, Thomas D'Alesandro, speaks with President John F. Kennedy at the White House in 1961 after taking the oath to become a member of the Federal Renegotiation Board. Her father was previously the mayor of Baltimore and a US congressman.
Pelosi, left, and her mother watch as her father, Thomas D'Alesandro, speaks with President John F. Kennedy at the White House in 1961 after taking the oath to become a member of the Federal Renegotiation Board. Her father was previously the mayor of Baltimore and a US congressman.
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Pelosi is seen at her election headquarters in California on primary night in 1987, the year she was first elected to the House.
Pelosi is seen at her election headquarters in California on primary night in 1987, the year she was first elected to the House.
Eric Luse/Hearst Newspapers/Getty Images
Pelosi celebrates in San Francisco on election night in 1987. She won a special election to fill a seat representing California's 5th Congressional District.
Pelosi celebrates in San Francisco on election night in 1987. She won a special election to fill a seat representing California's 5th Congressional District.
Eric Luse/Hearst Newspapers/San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images
Pelosi and fellow US Reps. Ben Jones, left, and John Miller unfold a banner during a trip to Beijing in 1991. The banner says, "To those who died for democracy in China," honoring the victims of the crackdown on Tiananmen Square protesters in 1989. Throughout her career in Congress, Pelosi has a long history of <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/02/politics/gallery/pelosi-china-history/index.html" target="_blank">representing the US to Chinese officials</a>, including standing up to Beijing as well as presidents from her own party.
Pelosi and fellow US Reps. Ben Jones, left, and John Miller unfold a banner during a trip to Beijing in 1991. The banner says, "To those who died for democracy in China," honoring the victims of the crackdown on Tiananmen Square protesters in 1989. Throughout her career in Congress, Pelosi has a long history of representing the US to Chinese officials, including standing up to Beijing as well as presidents from her own party.
AP
Pelosi delivers the minority report during the Democratic National Nominating Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1992.
Pelosi delivers the minority report during the Democratic National Nominating Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1992.
Mark Reinstein/Corbis Historical/Getty Images
Pelosi, right, votes during a House Appropriations Committee meeting on budget cuts in 1995.
Pelosi, right, votes during a House Appropriations Committee meeting on budget cuts in 1995.
Joe Marquette/AP
Pelosi is sworn in as the new House Minority Whip by House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt in 2001. Outgoing House Minority Whip David Bonior, center, was resigning to run for governor in Michigan. Pelosi is standing with her is husband, Paul; daughter, Nancy Corrine Prowda; and grandsons Alexander Prowda and Liam Kennealy.
Pelosi is sworn in as the new House Minority Whip by House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt in 2001. Outgoing House Minority Whip David Bonior, center, was resigning to run for governor in Michigan. Pelosi is standing with her is husband, Paul; daughter, Nancy Corrine Prowda; and grandsons Alexander Prowda and Liam Kennealy.
Scott J. Ferrell/CQ-Roll Call, Inc./Getty Images
Pelosi attends a fundraiser at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington in 2003. The Democratic National Committee raised about $1.7 million at the event, which drew seven of the nine Democratic presidential candidates.
Pelosi attends a fundraiser at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington in 2003. The Democratic National Committee raised about $1.7 million at the event, which drew seven of the nine Democratic presidential candidates.
Stefan Zaklin/Getty Images
Pelosi sits with her grandchildren while being nominated as the next House Speaker during a swearing-in ceremony for the 110th Congress in 2007. She became the first female Speaker of the House.
Pelosi sits with her grandchildren while being nominated as the next House Speaker during a swearing-in ceremony for the 110th Congress in 2007. She became the first female Speaker of the House.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Pelosi looks at a new street sign bearing her name after its unveiling in 2007 in front of the corner row house where she grew up in Baltimore.
Pelosi looks at a new street sign bearing her name after its unveiling in 2007 in front of the corner row house where she grew up in Baltimore.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
President George W. Bush shakes hands with Pelosi as Vice President Dick Cheney looks on after Bush delivered his State of the Union address in 2007.
President George W. Bush shakes hands with Pelosi as Vice President Dick Cheney looks on after Bush delivered his State of the Union address in 2007.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Pelosi listens to Afghan President Hamid Karzai as other delegation member looks on during a 2007 meeting at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Pelosi listens to Afghan President Hamid Karzai as other delegation member looks on during a 2007 meeting at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Rafiq Maqbool/AP
Pelosi signs the financial bailout bill at a news conference after it passed through the House Floor at the Capitol in 2008. Congress approved a $700 billion bailout package for US banks as efforts to head off a spreading global financial crisis hung in the balance.
Pelosi signs the financial bailout bill at a news conference after it passed through the House Floor at the Capitol in 2008. Congress approved a $700 billion bailout package for US banks as efforts to head off a spreading global financial crisis hung in the balance.
Mitch Dumke/Reuters
The Dalai Lama greets Pelosi during The Lantos Human Rights Prize award ceremony in Washington in 2009. The Dalai Lama was the inaugural recipient of the award.
The Dalai Lama greets Pelosi during The Lantos Human Rights Prize award ceremony in Washington in 2009. The Dalai Lama was the inaugural recipient of the award.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Pelosi is congratulated by her staff after the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 was passed by the House in 2010.
Pelosi is congratulated by her staff after the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 was passed by the House in 2010.
Melina Mara/The Washington Post/Getty Images
President Barack Obama greets Pelosi at the 2012 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.
President Barack Obama greets Pelosi at the 2012 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.
Larry Downing/Reuters