The decision by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to leave Congress after almost four decades marks the end of an era for both the powerhouse Democrat and her party at large.

The former Speaker not only wrote herself into the history books as the first woman to hold the gavel, but also muscled into law some of the most significant policy changes of modern times, including sweeping health care, climate and Wall Street reforms.

Along the way, Pelosi earned a reputation as a potent vote-counter — one who could convince even the most reluctant Democrats to support her agenda — and a mammoth fundraiser, who pulled in roughly $1.3 billion for the Democrats over her congressional career.

“She made us proud to be Democrats,” former President Obama wrote Thursday, “and will go down in history as one

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