Boehner Retains His Speakership

House Speaker John Boehner was re-elected to a second term as leader of the lower chamber today on the first vote despite grumblings from conservative quarters.

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Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), appointed to conference chair for the 113th Congress that gaveled in this afternoon, nominated Boehner.

The nomination received a standing ovation.

McMorris Rodgers’ counterpart on the left, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), nominated Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for the role.

There were no additional nominations from either side. The vote was 220 for Boehner, 192 for Pelosi, and 15 voting for others or voting present.

Boehner needed 218 votes to win. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) skipped the beginning of the vote, but voted for Boehner when her name was called at the end of the roll call.

Reps. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and Paul Broun (R-Ga.) voted for 112th Congress Rep. Allen West (R-Fla).

Incoming Oklahoma Rep. Jim Bridenstine and Florida Rep. Ted Yoho voted for Eric Cantor, along with Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.), sparking “ooohs” from the chamber.

Cantor stood up and voted for Boehner, and tweeted soon after, “It is an honor to serve with @SpeakerBoehner. I look forward to continue working with my friend to help all Americans.”

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The Blue Dog Democrats had some fun with the vote. Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.) voted for Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.). Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) voted for former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Pro-life Democrat Bill Lipinski (Ill.) voted for Cooper.

Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), upset about being committee-ousted by Boehner, voted for Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho). Labrador didn’t vote. Tom Massie (R-Ky.) voted for Amash.

Another spurned GOP, Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.), voted for conservative Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). Jordan voted for Boehner.

And yet another, Rep. Walt Jones (R-N.C.), voted for former comptroller general David Walker.

However, Rep. Dave Schweikert (R-Ariz.), also stripped of his seat on the Financial Services Committee, voted for Boehner.

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