Nancy Pelosi Is Elected <br />Speaker of the House <br />of Representatives Pelosi assumes the role the same <br />day Democrats officially take control <br />of the House of the 116th Congress. The California Democrat <br />was elected 220 to 192 over <br />Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy. 15 Democrats defected <br />from voting for Pelosi. Entering Congress in 1987, <br />Pelosi previously served as <br />House Speaker for two terms. She is the only <br />woman ever to <br />have held the position. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, via Fox News The new Speaker faces an <br />ongoing partial government <br />shutdown that has lasted <br />for more than 12 days.
