Though today’s vote for House Speaker was all but assured to break in Rep. John Boehner’s (R-OH) favor after the midterm elections, it nonetheless managed to be dramatic for new Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Freed to cast symbolic votes against the soon-to-be-former Speaker, 19 of her fellow Democrats cast protest votes against her. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), who led a movement to deny Pelosi the leadership slot after the election, didn’t vote at all.Conservative Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC), who announced his run for Minority Leader before Pelosi even made her decision, garnered 11 votes, including his own. Democratic Reps. Jason Altmire (PA), Dan Boren (OK), Jim Cooper (TN), Joe Donnelly (IN), Tim Holden (PA), Larry Kissell (NC), Mike McIntyre (NC), Jim Matheson (UT), Mike Michaud (ME) and Mike Ross (AR) joined him.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=116342