Pelosi Elected House Speaker With Narrow Democratic Majority

  • Despite eagerness for change, no Democratic opponent emerged
  • Only woman to hold gavel may be making last stand as leader
Nancy Pelosi was unchallenged within the Democratic party for her fourth, nonconsecutive, term as speaker.Photographer: Ting Shen/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Nancy Pelosi was elected House speaker as the new session of Congress began with a narrower Democratic majority, which will present her with multiple challenges in what could be her final two year term in the top post.

Pelosi, 80, the only woman to hold the speaker’s gavel, was selected again with 216 votes, just two more than a majority of those present, despite a clamor from both the progressive and moderate wings of her party for a new generation of leadership.