Pelosi Wins Re-election As House Speaker With Slim Majority

Nancy Pelosi wins re-election for the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives despite narrow margins. 

What We Know: 

• Nancy Pelosi became the first woman to be Speaker of the House in 2006. Pelosi led the House from 2006 to 2011. She took back the House for the Democrats in 2018. Pelosi led the House Democrats for seventeen years. In a report from CNN, Pelosi commented on her triumph, “It gives (me) great pride to serve as speaker of the most diverse House of Representatives in the history of our country.” 
• Pelosi faced concern over her election. Democrats hold the smallest majority in decades, and some sought new leadership. House Republican Kevin McCarthy received 209 votes, which were not enough to beat Pelosi’s 216. 
• Virginia Democratic Representative Gerry Connolly commented on the small margins. “She is very aware of the fact that with a slim majority — with some members who voted against her two years ago — there is gonna have to be an effort to persuade them that that was then and this is now. We cannot afford to have uncertainty about the speakership.” 
• Some representatives opted for a change in government. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia defected voted present said, “In a time marked by historically low trust in our government, new voices are necessary to moving forward and achieving real progress.” Spanberger is among five others who did not vote for Pelosi or voted present. 
• Due to the pandemic, seats were left vacant as members must be present to vote. Some members voted through plexiglass-enclosed areas wearing masks and face shields. Pelosi even commented that her biggest rival in the election was covid. 

Pelosi’s re-election comes amidst increasing numbers from the coronavirus pandemic. Although serving from the start of the pandemic, Pelosi will face challenges from the virus as vaccines begin to be distributed.