July 3, 2009 Palin to resign as Governor by end of July Play video

(NECN) - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has announced her decision to resign from the Governor's office later this month.

In a press conference, Palin said the decision was in the works for quite some time and was based on doing what was best for her family.

It’s clear the national pressure and criticism may have also played a pressure.

She compared herself to a point guard who has been under a full court press nationally and asked the public to trust her in her reasons for her decision.

There has been a lot of speculation that she would run for president in 2012. However, she did not address those rumors in today's press conference.

Palin’s spokesman Dave Murrow says Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will be inaugurated at the governor's picnic in Fairbanks at the end of the month.