John Boehner was re-elected speaker of the House on Thursday, capping a turbulent period that saw the failure of his “Plan B” to avert the so-called fiscal cliff and open hostility from fellow Republicans over not holding a vote for Hurricane Sandy aid.
House Democrats nominated Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) received three Republican votes and Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) received one.
The Constitution does not require the speaker to be a member of the House, which welcomed two votes for former Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) from Reps. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and even one vote for former Secretary of State Colin Powell.
