Democratic-led House begins vote for new speaker

(3 Jan 2019) The new Democratic-led House has begun voting on who will serve as the next speaker after both parties put forward their nominations Thursday. Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California is expected to win, retaking a post she held for four years until January 2011. She has been serving as minority leader ever since. Pelosi all but ensured her election by agreeing to limit her tenure to no more than four years in the chamber's top spot. Some Democrats have been calling for new leadership in the caucus. There are 235 Democrats in the House and 199 Republicans, with one vacancy. Just before the voting began, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York placed Pelosi's name in nomination, calling her a "legendary legislator" and citing her work on the landmark health care law approved when she previously served as speaker from 2007 to 2011. Jeffries received a standing ovation when he said House Democrats were "down with NDP, Nancy D'Alesandro Pelosi." Pelosi has served as Democratic leader in the House since 2003. Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming nominated Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California as the Republican choice for speaker. McCarthy has been House Majority Leader and will now become Minority Leader. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...