Paul Pelosi, the husband of United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has been "violently assaulted" after a break-in at the couple's California home early on Friday local time, her office said in a statement.

Mr Pelosi, 82, suffered blunt force injuries in the attack, according to two people with knowledge of the investigation who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

The attack occurred at their home in San Francisco according to Ms Pelosi's spokesman Drew Hammill. 

“Early this morning, an assailant broke into the Pelosi residence in San Francisco and violently assaulted Mr Pelosi," the statement reads. 

Mr Hammill said the alleged attacker had been taken into custody and the motivation for the attack is under investigation. 

"Mr Pelosi was taken to the hospital, where he is receiving excellent medical care and is expected to make a full recovery," he said.

“The Speaker and her family are grateful to the first responders and medical professionals involved, and request privacy at this time.”

Ms Pelosi was not in San Francisco at the time.

The circumstances of the attack were unclear, including how the intruder got into the home.

A San Francisco Police Department spokesperson and a spokesperson for Nancy Pelosi did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.

The assault comes less than two weeks before the November 8 midterm elections, in which control of the House and the Senate is at stake.

As a Democratic leader in Washington and a longtime representative from one of America's most liberal cities, Ms Pelosi is a frequent target for Republican criticism and is often featured in attack ads.

Her office was ransacked during the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol by supporters of then-president Donald Trump.

In January 2021, her home was vandalised with graffiti saying "cancel rent" and "We want everything" painted on the house and a pig's head left in front of the garage, according to media reports.

Prominent Republicans, such as Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, have been targets of vandalism as well.

Mr Pelosi owns a San Francisco-based real estate and venture capital firm.

Ms Pelosi recently made headlines when she visited Taiwan, increasing tensions between the US and China. 

Reuters/AP