House Reelects Nancy Pelosi As Speaker

WASHINGTON — In an awfully shut vote, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was reelected speaker of the House Sunday, securing the gavel for the fourth time in her almost 34-year profession in Congress.

The House voted 216-209 for Pelosi over Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) with three members voting “present.” In a stark distinction from earlier elections, there have been hardly any defections from both social gathering, as members equivalent to Reps. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) and Ron Kind (D-Wis.) broke custom and voted for Pelosi. 

There have been nonetheless some defections from centrists in swing seats. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) voted for Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.) voted for the House Democratic Caucus chairman, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York. And Reps. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) voted “present.”

Notably, Pelosi didn’t face any attrition from left-wing members of her caucus. The expanded “Squad” of six progressives ― Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Cori Bush (Mo.) and Ayanna Pressley (Mass.) ― all voted for Pelosi.

But Democrats protecting in line was much more crucial than in earlier years, because the margin between Democrats and Republicans on this Congress will solely be about 5 – 6 votes, relying on how a yet-to-be-called race shakes out in New York and the way some vacancies are stuffed.

In truth, the margin was so tight that members who at the moment have been uncovered to the coronavirus have been nonetheless known as to the Capitol on Sunday to vote. A particular plexiglass-covered space was arrange within the gallery of the House flooring, the place Reps. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) voted.

Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), who examined constructive for the coronavirus on Monday and has not but obtained a destructive check, voted from the House flooring Sunday, telling reporters that her physician had cleared her to journey.

Pelosi has indicated this can be her last stint as speaker. She made a deal firstly of the final Congress that she would solely serve two extra phrases as speaker, and she or he appeared to verify that the identical deal was nonetheless in play proper after the election this 12 months.

But she hasn’t explicitly dedicated to leaving, and the California Democrat — who would have spent 20 years as the highest Democrat within the House by then — may at all times change her thoughts.

The tight margin, nevertheless, could drive her out, as some average Democrats could not wish to run in 2022 with Pelosi additionally working for reelection. With the House breakdown so tight, Republicans may simply flip the House in a midterm election in any case.

And progressive members, equivalent to Ocasio-Cortez, who has clashed with Pelosi over legislative priorities and committee seats, are wanting to have a extra left-leaning different to her speakership. Ocasio-Cortez informed The Intercept in December that whereas she wished Pelosi to step apart, at current, making an attempt to push Pelosi out posed too nice a threat of “something even worse” filling the void.

For now, Pelosi has secured one other time period, and the Democrats ready within the wings must wait some time longer.

In his remarks nominating Pelosi for speaker, Jeffries, who is probably the favourite to take over for Pelosi, characterised this era in historical past as one “filled with trials and tribulations and a lot of pain and suffering and death.”

But he stated Pelosi is provided to steer the House presently as a result of she “believes that the House is fundamentally the institution best equipped to reflect the hopes, the dreams and the aspirations of everyday Americans.” 

“History will record that today was a good day,” he stated.