WASHINGTON — House Democrats on Wednesday nominated Nancy Pelosi as speaker, paving the way for her to be elected to the top post in January.
Pelosi, who previously served as the first woman speaker from 2007 to 2011, prevailed in the closed-door Caucus vote as Democrats held their leadership elections for next year, despite a long-simmering insurgency against her bid — a rebellion that appeared to crumble in the days leading up to the vote.
"As I say, our diversity is our strength but our unity is our power. We will use that power again in a unifying way for our country," she told reporters.
The 78-year-old California Democrat had faced threats from all corners of her Caucus — from moderates, from progressives, from members-elect and from younger lawmakers hoping for a generational change. But leading up to Wednesday's vote, following lobbying from Pelosi herself, individuals from each of these factions who had either previously expressed opposition to her or signaled skepticism came out publicly in support.
Flanked by her supporters as they continued to count the votes for speaker, Pelosi told reporters, "I’ve always had an opposition. Today it didn’t materialize into an opponent."
Her supporters also took a victory lap. "This time she is the very best. She’s not just a candidate. She is the very best that we have to lead us through this cycle and to prepare us for transition," said Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, who was among several lawmakers who seconded Pelosi's nomination, to reporters.
Despite the threat from rebellious lawmakers, Pelosi ran unopposed during the election in which lawmakers voted by secret ballot. She just needed a simple majority on Wednesday in order to win and wasn’t expected to have a problem crossing that threshold.
In early January, when the lower chamber holds the formal speaker vote on the floor, Pelosi will need a majority of the whole House present and voting. Any opposition to her bid on Wednesday may not weigh heavily in the end on whether she wins back the gavel next year. Sixty-three House Democrats in 2016 voted against Pelosi during the closed-door Caucus vote, for example, voting instead for Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, but only four members ultimately voted against her on the floor just a few weeks later.
Rep. Brian Higgins, D-N.Y., who initially signed a letter opposing Pelosi and later switched to support her, said Pelosi can “easily” get the extra votes she’ll need in January — but it might require her to cut more deals with recalcitrant members.
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