Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as the powerful Speaker of the US House of Representatives, has said she will not run for re-election to Congress in 2026, ending a four-decade career of a progressive Democratic icon often vilified by the right.

The 85-year-old congresswoman, first elected in 1987, made her announcement two days after voters in California on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved Proposition 50, a state redistricting effort aimed at flipping five House seats to Democrats in next year’s midterm elections.

“I will not be seeking re-election to Congress. With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service,” Ms Pelosi said in a video posted on X.

California’s embrace of Proposition 50 was in response to a similar move by Texas to boost Republicans’ chances. The

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