Pelosi set to Reclaim Speaker Gavel for Second Time

Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) has been chosen by House Democrats as the newest nominee for Speaker of the House following a closed door vote today.

Running unopposed during the Democratic caucus election, Pelosi was able to swiftly silence all Speaker challengers over the last month as well as the majority of her own party’s opposition. Despite this, she will need at least 218 votes when the full House meets for a vote in early January.

At least 16 House Democrats signed a letter originally opposing Pelosi’s leadership, arguing that the party should be heading in a more progressive manor led by a younger ‘fresh face’ member. However, many of them have retracted their statements after Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), the most prominent Pelosi-challenger, announced she would no longer be running.

Interestingly enough, after declaring she would not be running, Pelosi released a statement naming Fudge the chairwoman of a House subcommittee vindicating her political prowess remains stout.

House Democrats are heading into the new session with at least a 233-vote majority, however, at this moment it remains undetermined who, if anyone, voted against Pelosi during the closed door gathering.

Pelosi became the first woman Speaker when Democrats controlled the House from 2007 to 2011. The only other person to reign a second time as Speaker was Democrat Sam Rayburn who held the gavel three separate times.