In a dramatic and moving speech this morning, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has led the House Democrats for two decades and is the first woman to hold the speakership, announced she would be stepping down from her leadership position.
However, she said she will remain a member of Congress and serve out the term to which she was just elected.
This announcement comes less than a day after news outlets projected that Democrats would narrowly lose their House majority to Republicans following the midterm elections.
“For me, the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic Congress that I so deeply respect,” Pelosi said. “And I am grateful that so many are ready and willing to shoulder this awesome responsibility.”