Nancy Pelosi locks up two more years as House Speaker

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi holds a news conference about Democratic legislative priorities and impeachment inquiry plans at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., October 2, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Speaker Nancy Pelosi renewed her hold on the House’s top job, but ahead of her is the challenge of producing legislation to tackle the pandemic and revive the economy while leading the chamber’s narrowest majority in two decades.

The slim mandate gave her the reins of the Democrats’ slender House majority as President-elect Joe Biden sets a challenging course of producing legislation to tackle the pandemic, revive the economy and address other party priorities.

The California Democrat, who has led her party in the House since 2003 and is the only woman to be speaker, had been widely expected to retain her post. Pelosi received 216 votes to 209 for Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who again will be the chamber’s minority leader.

To gain her victory, Pelosi had to overcome some Democratic grumbling about her longevity, a slim 222-211 edge over Republicans after November’s elections, and a handful of absences because of the coronavirus. There were two vacancies in the 435-member House, and whatever happens Democrats will have the smallest House majority in two decades.

The new Congress convened Sunday, just two days after lawmakers ended their contentious previous session and with COVID-19 guidelines requiring testing and face coverings for House members. There was widespread mask-wearing and far fewer lawmakers and guests in the chamber than usual, an unimaginable tableau when the last Congress commenced two years ago, before the pandemic struck.

Pelosi, who has led House Democrats since 2003 and is the only woman to be speaker, was widely expected to retain her post despite some Democratic grumbling, a slim 222-211 edge over Republicans and a handful of absences because of the coronavirus. There were two vacancies in the 435-member House.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., formally nominated Pelosi for the job, calling her “a notorious negotiator and a legendary legislator for such a time as this.”

To be reelected, Pelosi needed a majority of votes cast for specific candidates and could afford to lose only a handful of Democratic votes.