House Democrats Re-Elect Nancy Pelosi as Their Leader Without Dissent

Clearly House Democrats do not blame Nancy Pelosi for their losses. The House minority leader was re-elected to her post Tuesday. According to Reuters, the vote was unanimous.

Democrats, already in the minority headed into this month’s midterm elections, lost more seats. But they seem to have decided not to shake up the leadership. Steny Hoyer, D-N.Y., also kept his job as minority whip.

Pelosi, who represents San Francisco in the House, has led Democrats there since 2007, when she became the first woman in our nation’s history elected as speaker. At the time, even the Republican opposition acknowledged the historic moment. Some legislators brought their daughters to the Capitol to soak in the inspiration.

But Pelosi is more than the sum of her gender. She has been a force in her party through good times and bad. She led a diverse coalition in the House when George W. Bush was still president, helped push through the Affordable Care Act and, since 2010, has held her caucus together in the minority.

— Posted by Peter Z. Scheer