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- The American Democrats have re-elected Nancy Pelosi as president of the American Congress.
- President-elect Joe Biden congratulated her.
- Democrats have a small majority.
US Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday elected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to lead the party in the Joe Biden era and preside over its narrow majority in the House as the most powerful person in Congress.
Pelosi, 80, the highest-ranking woman in the history of the US Congress and the main nemesis of outgoing President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill, ran unopposed for the top job.
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She was nominated in a virtual leadership election, the first of its kind as the nation battles the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m excited, I’m excited, and I can’t wait to work with the new president of the United States, Joe Biden and (the vice president) Kamala Harris,” Pelosi said.
By accepting the nomination, he vowed to take action to help “crush” the Covid-19 crisis and prioritize achieving “justice” for Americans on health care, economic security, courts, and climate change.
‘Leader without fear’
Biden called Pelosi to congratulate her and tell her that he “looks forward to working with her and the Democratic leadership in the House on a shared agenda to get Covid-19 under control and better rebuild our economy,” her transition team said.
A formal House vote for the speaker’s seat comes in January after the new session of Congress begins and shortly before Biden takes office as president.
He is expected to win.
Pelosi has led her caucus since 2003. Two years ago, the veteran legislator representing San Francisco agreed to serve in office until 2022 at the latest, a move that likely cleared the way for her easy nomination.
The House Democratic caucus, in a tweet, praised the nomination of their “fearless leader.”
But tensions have boiled.
In the November 3 election, Democrats fell short of their stated goal of expanding their majority from 233-202, failing to topple a single Republican candidate and losing at least 10 seats.
There were still a few close races counted, but when the dust settles Pelosi will find that she leads a slim majority.
When asked on Wednesday about whether he would make good on his commitment to resign by the end of 2022, he said his previous comments are valid.
“I don’t want to undermine any influence it may have, but I made the statement,” Pelosi said.
Ask for new blood
While there have been calls within the ranks for new blood at the top of the ideologically fractured conference, the top three positions once again went to the trio of now octogenarians led by Pelosi.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, 81, and Majority Whip James Clyburn, 80, the highest-ranking black member, were also re-elected.
The most contested race was that of assistant to the president, the party’s number four position, and it showed potential members of a new generation of Democratic leaders.
Congresswoman Katherine Clark, 57, and currently vice chair of the Democratic caucus, prevailed over the more progressive Democrat David Cicilline, 59, the first openly gay member of the House leadership.
Republicans have painted their Democratic rivals as “radical” leftists eager to impose “socialism” on the United States, a message they reiterated Tuesday after their own House vote re-elected party leaders, including the leader of the United States. the minority Kevin McCarthy.
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