Nancy Pelosi has been elected to serve another term as Speaker of United States House. The race which was a tight one, reflected Democrats’ narrower majority in the next Congress.
Nancy Pelosi was elected 216-208 and will serve another term as House speaker for her fourth term.
Nancy Pelosi got the support of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others on the left flank of the party. Two Democrats voted for other candidates: Rep. Conor Lamb (D-PA) voted for Hakeem Jeffries, the New York Democrat, and Jared Golden (D-MD) voted for Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) voted present.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) garnered 209 votes.
The Covid-19 crisis overshadowed the proceedings. House members are required to wear masks when they are in the floor of the chamber, even when giving speeches.
Jeffries, who is chair of the House Democratic Caucus, nominated Pelosi as House speaker, calling a “resilient leader” who has shepherded the House through the coronavirus pandemic.
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), House Republican Caucus Chair, nominated McCarthy. She noted that the new Congress now “has more women members than any time in our history,” and credited him for Republican gains in the recent election.
Pelosi returned to the speakership in 2019, after serving in the post from 2007 to 2011. In the new Congress, Democrats will have 222 seats and Republicans will have 211. There are two vacancies.