Nancy Pelosi, who has been the leader of the Democrats in the US House of Representatives for nearly 20 years, announced that she would be stepping back from the role. Speaker Pelosi, who is the most powerful Democrat in Congress, is also the first woman Speaker of the House.

Speaker Pelosi said that last month’s attack on her husband, Paul Pelosi, in their home was a big factor in her decision. She thought about staying on as the leader of the Democratic Party in the House because she did not want to give people critical of her the satisfaction of intimidating her out of politics.

However, on Thursday, she announced that she was ready to step down, saying she felt good about her decision to let a new generation of leaders take over. She will stay on as the San Francisco Congresswoman and complete her term, but will make it clear that she will not endorse anyone to succeed her as Speaker.

Speaking to reporters at the Capitol on Thursday, Pelosi said she had no intention of meddling with the new leaders, adding that they will have their vision and plans.

The 82-year-old chose to speak to reporters in the Board of Education room, which has historically only been frequented by men in Congress.

Pelosi’s decision to step down comes as Republicans are expected to regain control of the House following last week’s mid-term elections.

Pelosi was first elected to Congress in 1987 when the House only had 12 women members. When asked what made her step down, she said she had been thinking about leaving for a while because there is more to life than politics, adding that she wants to do other things like singing and dancing.

She said that after decades of being in a powerful leadership position, she does not feel bad about stepping down and not having a leadership position, adding that she felt ‘balanced’ about her decision.

She said that the attack on her husband, which left him with a fractured skull inflicted by an intruder in their San Francisco home, had played a considerable role in her decision, considering the intruder was looking for her when he broke in.

The results of the midterm elections also weighed in on her decision. She said that if her party had been able to retain control of the House, then maybe she would not have decided to step down.

Pelosi said she would represent her district, but she would not be taking on any committee assignments, like the much-coveted seat on the Appropriations Committee.

Stepping away from her reputation as a compelling figure who is very involved in Congressional matters, Pelosi said that she would not be playing a role in guiding the leaders who succeed her.

President Biden released a statement on her decision to step down, praising her for her relentlessness. He also praised her for her achievements as a politician, including her role in rescuing the country from an economic crisis during the Great Recession.

Nancy Pelosi will remain as Congresswoman for San Francisco until January 2025.