(CNN) -- Calling the election "a great victory for the American people," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and fellow Democrats celebrated after their party seized 22 seats from Republicans to take control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years.

The turnover was a clear signal that dissatisfaction over the Iraq war, President Bush and a series of Republican scandals.

"Today, the American people voted for change, and they voted for Democrats to take our country in a new direction," said Pelosi. "And that is exactly what we intend to do."

The Congressman from San Francisco, California, is poised to become the first female speaker of the House -- making her the third person in line for the presidency after Vice President Cheney

Referring to Iraq, she said, "'Stay the course' has not made our country safer, has not honored our commitment to our troops, and has not made the region more stable. We cannot continue down this catastrophic path ... the campaign is over. The Democrats are ready to lead."