Democrat Nancy Pelosi is nominated to reclaim US House Speaker’s seat, but showdown still looms
- Nancy Pelosi won the Democratic nomination for the Speaker’s seat with ease, running unopposed
- But she faces a tougher challenge when the full House convenes in January
Nancy Pelosi was nominated by fellow Democrats to be House speaker on Wednesday, but she still faces a showdown vote when the full House convenes in January.
Pelosi entered the closed-door caucus election in an unusual position – running unopposed for the nomination despite the clamour by some Democrats for new leadership. The lopsided 203-32 tally showed both the weakness of her opposition but also the challenges ahead.
The California Democrat has been deftly picking off opponents – including nine who announced their support as voting was underway – a trend she’ll need to accelerate to reach the 218-vote threshold for election when Democrats take control of the chamber in the new year.
“Are there dissenters? Yes,” the California Democrat told reporters as the ballots were being counted. “But I expect to have a powerful vote going forward.”
US midterms: former House speaker Nancy Pelosi eyes gavel once more
Pelosi was nominated by Representative Joe Kennedy of Massachusetts, with no fewer than eight colleagues seconding the choice, including Representative John Lewis of Georgia, the civil rights leader, and three newly elected lawmakers.