Rep. Mike Pence, who stepped down from his post last week as the No. 3 House Republican, said he would make a decision early next year about whether to run for president in 2012.

“My family and I are going to take our time to carefully consider where we can serve our state, serve our nation, in the years ahead,” the Indiana Republican, who had served as Conference chairman, said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”

“We’ve been very humbled by the encouragement we’ve received back in Indiana and around the country, and we’re intent on taking the coming weeks to really prayerfully consider that … and after the first of the year, we’ll make a decision.”

Pence said he viewed Republican victories in Tuesday’s midterm elections as a fulfillment of his leadership commitment.

Reps. Jeb Hensarling (Texas) and Michele Bachmann (Minn.) are vying to replace Pence as Conference chairman.