Nancy Pelosi becomes Speaker of The House, 116th Congress is most diverse ever
"The honorable Nancy Pelosi of California, having received the majority of the votes cast is duly elected the representative for the 116th Congress."
And after those words were spoken, cheers and clapping and a standing ovation for the Speaker-Elect.
(AP Photo/Cliff Owen) pic.twitter.com/GPbWIK2adQ
- Colin Campbell (@colincampbell) January 3, 2019
Nancy Pelosi is now @SpeakerPelosi.
Again.
Today, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) became Speaker of the House of Representatives for the second time in her political career, after earning a majority of votes from her Democratic colleagues.
Since 2003, Pelosi has served as the top Democrat in the House. In 2007, she became the first female Speaker ever.
She cleared the majority threshold required to retake the gavel easily from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who today officially becomes the new Republican leader.
No final tally yet, but Nancy Pelosi just locked in the votes to be speaker. Dem vote breakdown:
12 voted for someone else (Brindisi, Crow, Cunningham, Golden, Kind, Lamb, McAdams, Rice, Rose, Schrader, Sherrill, Spanberger)
3 voted "present" (Cooper, Slotkin, Van Drew)
- Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) January 3, 2019
Nancy D'Alesandro Pelosi of Baltimore, Maryland is making history again, leading the most diverse Congress in history.
She did not come to play. Pelosi is gonna (metaphorically) cut Trump's head off and feed it to his dyin' ass.
Actual photo of Nancy Pelosi returning to Congress pic.twitter.com/4yKPBjy5Zh
- Paul Rudnick (@PaulRudnickNY) January 3, 2019
Heck yeah.
Earlier today, Congresswoman Pelosi spoke on NBC's 'Today' about what a Trump impeachment would mean. "We shouldn't be impeaching for a political reason, and we shouldn't avoid impeachment for a political reason."
Some tweeted color highlights from observers of the congressional chambers, below.
The Republicans were mostly quiet during the roll call, but loudly booed when Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the young Latina firebrand freshman congresswoman from the Bronx, voted for Pelosi, presumably because they were hoping AOC would vote against her.
They love the 'catfight' narrative, and they are likely sorry it didn't happen.
There were also some weird write-in candidates who aren't members of Congress (this is allowed), as well as this: Dem Rep. Jeff Van Drew voted "No." Just, "No."
Okay. Noted.
Best part about the whole thing, though, was this kid, who we think was Pelosi's granddaughter. Or the Muslim congresswoman whose sons dabbed with her to celebrate her swearing-in.
i guess she's Pelosi's granddaughter? anyway, she is ABSOLUTELY LOSING IT pic.twitter.com/Mjn1kBZOA0
- David Mack (@davidmackau) January 3, 2019
2019: one of the first 2 muslim women in congress just cast her first ever vote and then her sons dabbed pic.twitter.com/jyVy9H5aJH
- David Mack (@davidmackau) January 3, 2019
During this roll call, @NancyPelosi sits up straight, toward the front her chair, her back not even touching the back of the seat. She's in hot pink. Legs crossed. Looks calm and confident but also ready for this to be over
- Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) January 3, 2019
Rep. Jim Cooper voting "present" is actually a move toward Pelosi kinda sorta. He usually votes for someone else...
- Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) January 3, 2019
FIRST Pelosi defection is newly elected Rep Anthony Brindisi who votes for JOR BIDEN. Freshman keeping his promise from the trail
- Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) January 3, 2019
VP Pence and Sen. Schumer just ran into each other in the hall of the Senate and huddled for a minute... Pence told reporters there are meetings planned for Friday on the shutdown... Schumer told reporters that GOP must reopen gov't but wouldn't comment on his convo w/ VP
- Robert Costa (@costareports) January 3, 2019
Jim Cooper of Tennessee, a Dem who opposes Pelosi, votes "present." Jason Crow, a new Dem from Colorado, votes for Tammy Duckworth. Joe Cunningham, freshmen Dem of SC, votes for Cheri Bustos
- Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 3, 2019
So far we have THREE Pelosi defections and a present vote. All defections are freshmen so far: Jason Crow went for Tammy Duckworth, double amputee from Wis, Joe Cunningham for Cheri Bustos, the DCCC chair, and Anthony Brindisi for Joe Biden
- Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) January 3, 2019
Joe Cunningham from South Carolina votes for Cheri Bustos. Cunningham won the seat previously held by Mark Sanford
- Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) January 3, 2019
Jim Cooper of Tennessee, a Dem who opposes Pelosi, votes "present." Jason Crow, a new Dem from Colorado, votes for Tammy Duckworth. Joe Cunningham, freshmen Dem of SC, votes for Cheri Bustos
- Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 3, 2019
Unusual votes for Speaker of the House:
Colin Powell (2013, 2015, 2017)
Former Rep. Alan West (2013)
Former GAO comptroller David Walker (2013)
Sen. Rand Paul (2015)
Rep. Thomas Massie (2019)
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (2019)
Joe Biden (2019) #116thCongress- Beatrice-Elizabeth Peterson (@MissBeaE) January 3, 2019
Today I voted "present" in the vote for Speaker of the House, consistent with my eight-year push for new Democratic leadership. Now that we are back in the majority, I did not vote for a rival candidate because there are none.
- Jim Cooper (@repjimcooper) January 3, 2019
Golden of Maine also votes for Bustos. Five protest votes against Pelosi so far
- Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 3, 2019
Jody Hicks is third GOP vote for Jim Jordan
- Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) January 3, 2019
Massie votes for Jim Jordan; Ben McAdams votes for Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.
- Jonathan Allen (@jonallendc) January 3, 2019
This is really fascinating. Especially bc Pelosi has the room to give her a pass & prob wouldn't mind if she opposed her bc her dirtrict is so red. She must really like Pelosi... https://t.co/weCEZ2Qpen
- Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) January 3, 2019
Ben McAdams of Utah votes for Stephanie Murphy for Speaker.
- Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) January 3, 2019
"To drain the swamp, Jim Jordan," Rep. Tom Massie votes. Jordan voted for McCarthy
- Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 3, 2019
Amazing.
The House chamber is packed and also contains many children, small babies, yet the only fidgeting or noise out of turn was a "boo" from GOP side when Massie voted for Jordan.
- Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) January 3, 2019
cute congress baby
- Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) January 3, 2019
Incoming rep. Lucy McBath dedicates her vote to her slain son Jordan. She votes for Pelosi.
- Lauren Gambino (@laurenegambino) January 3, 2019
In the front row of the speaker's section of the House chamber: Tony Bennett.
Another one of Pelosi's guests: Mickey Hart, the drummer of the greatest rock and roll band to ever exist, the Grateful Dead.
- Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 3, 2019
Lingering in the back fo the chamber for the speaker vote: @MickMulvaneyOMB
- Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 3, 2019
Seth Moulton casts a quiet vote for Pelosi for Speaker
- Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) January 3, 2019
There was also a round of applause for Deb Haaland when she voted for Pelosi as "the first Native American woman to vote on this floor."
- Lissandra Villa (@LissandraVilla) January 3, 2019
Seth Moulton quietly votes for Nancy Pelosi after helping lead opposition to her.
- Alex Seitz-Wald (@aseitzwald) January 3, 2019
Audible "ohhhs" from Republican side as @AOC voted for @NancyPelosi on House floor for Speaker
- Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) January 3, 2019
Republicans have stayed quiet as Democrats casts votes for @NancyPelosi but some decided to boo as @AOC voted for her.
- Lindsey McPherson (@lindsemcpherson) January 3, 2019
.@AOC votes for Pelosi for House Speaker. pic.twitter.com/DjI8NXFW6K
- Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) January 3, 2019
Rouda just voted for Pelosi. All 7 newly elected CA members voted for her for speaker. https://t.co/PxK7Lof6AV
- Christine Mai-Duc (@cmaiduc) January 3, 2019
"Born and raised in Baltimore, Nancy D'alesandro Pelosi", yells @Call_Me_Dutch
- Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 3, 2019
Tim Ryan of Ohio, another longtime Pelosi adversary, votes for Pelosi. He ran against her in the past
- Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) January 3, 2019
Abigail Spanberger votes for Cheri Bustos for Speaker.
- Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) January 3, 2019
I'm so proud to have just cast my first vote as a Congresswoman for Speaker @NancyPelosi. #116thCongress pic.twitter.com/3G5Vkv8Tek
- Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 3, 2019
Few more Dems not voting for Pelosi for speaker.
Mike Sherrill votes for Cheri Bustos
Elissa Slotkin votes present
Abigail Spanberger votes Cheri Bustos- Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) January 3, 2019
Van Drew (no) -- yes, he voted "no"
- Paul Kane (@pkcapitol) January 3, 2019
Rep Jeff Van Drew D-NJ votes "No" - not sure how that gets recorded. He had promised not to vote for Pelosi.
- Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 3, 2019
Unusual votes for Speaker continued:
Stacey Abrams (2019) by longtime Pelosi critic, fellow democrat Rep. Kathleen Rice
Tammy Duckworth (2019) by freshman democrat Rep. Max Rose
- Beatrice-Elizabeth Peterson (@MissBeaE) January 3, 2019
SO BY MY COUNT, 15 Dem defections in speaker's vote including:
- Four votes for DCCC Chair Cheri Bustos
- Two votes for Sen. Tammy Duckworth
- Three "present" votes
- Heather Caygle (@heatherscope) January 3, 2019
who is this king who brought the entire mac desktop to the house pic.twitter.com/4mnFysjMJP
- Dom DiFurio (@DomDiFurio) January 3, 2019