San Francisco Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was elected Speaker on Thursday for the second time, becoming the first woman in history to hold the position twice, and the first person in nearly six decades to have regained the post.
"Our nation is at an historic moment. Two months ago, the American people spoke, and demanded a new dawn," Pelosi wrote in prepared remarks. "I am particularly proud to be the woman speaker of the House of this Congress, which marks 100 years of women winning the right to vote, as we serve with more than 100 women in the House of Representatives – the highest number in history."
Pelosi was elected by a vote of 220-192, with most Republicans voting for the House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). The 116th Congress is also notable as it marks the first time the two most powerful House leaders are from the same state.
The representative from San Francisco will also preside over the most diverse Congress ever assembled as a historic number of women, minorities and LGBT members were sworn in Thursday for the 116th Congress.
Pelosi was first elected to Congress in 1987, quickly rising through the ranks in the House. She served on the House Intelligence and Appropriations committees before she was elected to House Leadership in 2001. She previously served as Speaker of the House from 2007 to 2011 under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama until Republicans retook the House.
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