New Congress is sworn in

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi en masse swore in all the House members who had been on the floor for the unexpected recorded vote prompted by Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas, challenging seating the delegations.

Members-elect were meant to be the first of seven groups to be sworn in, but Pelosi told members that anyone on the floor could be sworn in with them, and that prompted a swelling of members at the chamber doors. It appeared about 300 members were sworn in.

Pelosi's gentle admonitions “in the interest of social distancing" prompted laughter on the floor.

Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy challenged the seating of the delegations from Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Nevada, essentially saying that if there was widespread fraud in those states -- as President Trump and his followers have claimed -- then so are the elections of those House delegations. 

The move from Roy, who has previously spoken out against his fellow GOPers expected plan to challenge the certification of the electoral votes on Wednesday, is forcing a vote from the House on whether they think the House members should be sworn in, and putting the whole chamber on the record. The vote was nearly unanimous to proceed. 

"[I]t would confound basic human reason if the presidential results were to face objection while the congressional results of the same process escaped without public scrutiny," Roy said in a statement released shortly after his objection.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke shortly after being re-elected to the position of Speaker, saying, “we begin this new Congress during a time of extraordinary difficulty,” in a nod to the ongoing coronavirus crisis facing the nation.

“Our most urgent priority will continue to be defeating the coronavirus. And defeat it, we will. Two weeks ago, we passed an emergency relief package to crush the virus and put money in the pockets of workers and families, which is now the law,” Pelosi said.

She went on to say, “But we must do more to recognize our heroes. Let us thank our heroes – our health care workers, our first responders, our police and fire, who we have denied support by denying help to state and local government, our transportation, sanitation, food and social workers, and our teachers, our teachers, our teachers. They make our lives possible at the state and local level, and will facilitate the distribution of the vaccine in a fair and equitable manner. We owe them more.”

“With President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris, who were elected two months ago from today, the House will continue our work to save lives and livelihoods, to build back better in a way that advances justice in America,” Pelosi said.

Pelosi also addressed tragedies that have hit particularly close to home for members.

“As we open the new Congress, we grieve the passing of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow. We send our deepest sympathy to his wife Julia and their children and are praying for them at this sad time,” Pelosi said. Letlow recently passed away after being diagnosed with Covid-19. 

Pelosi thanked House Democrats for once again electing her, saying, “I thank my Democratic colleagues in the Congress for the confidence you have placed in me by electing me Speaker, and will endeavor to meet the moment with courage, unity and grace.”

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House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy delivered remarks on the House floor and voiced criticism of House Democrats.

“In this chamber two years ago, the Speaker spoke of a new dawn for the middle class. But for the next two years, the majority was consumed with everything else. During some of the most challenging times for our country, I felt Congress was on the sidelines,” McCarthy said.

“I wish I could say that the majority in Congress is committed to changing for the common good and focusing on what really matters, but I’m concerned that early actions are pointing in the wrong direction,” he said.

In a reference to the fact that House Democrats lost multiple seats in the November elections and now have a narrow majority, McCarthy said, “Given the message the American people sent to Washington: the grip is slim and the majority is slimmer.” 

A mixture of boos as well as some clapping could be heard in the chamber after McCarthy said, “When unrest spilled into the cities and communities across the country, did we deliver safety that Americans wanted or did we let calls to defund the police intimidate us from protecting life, liberty and property?”

McCarthy spoke shortly after Nancy Pelosi was re-elected as House Speaker for the new Congress.

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The House has just officially reelected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to another term with 216 members voting for her.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy received 209 votes.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth received one vote, and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries received one vote.

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Nancy Pelosi has secured the votes she needed to win the Speaker's gavel (more than 214 votes). The House needs to gavel closed but she is on track to win.

Two Democrats voted against Pelosi today during the speaker vote. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine voted for Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Rep. Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania voted for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.

Reps. Mikie Sherrill, Abigail Spanberger and Elissa Slotkin voted present. Any “present” vote by a member is considered a nonvote and will reduce the number of total votes Pelosi will need to keep the gavel.

All Republican members supported House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for Speaker.

The entire "Squad" voted for Pelosi as well, including Rep.-elects Cori Bush and Jaamal Bowman, and Reps. Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. 

Here's a look at the members who opposed Pelosi in 2019 and how they voted today:

• Jim Cooper (Tenn.) — Pelosi
• Jason Crow (Colo.) — Pelosi
• Jared Golden (Maine) — Duckworth
• Ron Kind (Wis.) — Pelosi
• Conor Lamb (Pa.) — Jeffries
• Kathleen Rice (N.Y.) — Pelosi
• Kurt Schrader (Ore.) — Pelosi
• Mikie Sherrill (N.J.) — Present
• Abigail Spanberger (Va.) — Present
• Elissa Slotkin (Mich.) — Present

The House is still conducting a manual roll call vote on the election of the Speaker.

Pelosi is running unopposed in her election after serving for 17 years as the leader of the House Democrats. But she has a slim margin for error.

Two Democrats voted against Nancy Pelosi today. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine voted for Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Rep. Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania voted for Hakeem Jeffries.

Reps. Mikie Sherrill, Abigail Spanberger and Elissa Slotkin voted present.

Any “present” vote by a member is considered a non-vote and will reduce the number of total Pelosi will need to keep the gavel.

Some members did not vote during their time slot and will vote at the end, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

All Republican members supported House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for speaker.

While Democrats have projected confidence Pelosi will have the votes she needs, she can only afford to lose a handful of votes with a razor thin majority.

Here's a look at the members who opposed Pelosi in 2019 and how they voted today:

• Jim Cooper (Tenn.) — Pelosi
• Jason Crow (Colo.) — Pelosi
• Jared Golden (Maine) — Duckworth
• Ron Kind (Wis.) — Pelosi
• Conor Lamb (Pa.) — Jeffries
• Kathleen Rice (N.Y.) — Pelosi
• Kurt Schrader (Ore.) — Pelosi
• Mikie Sherrill (N.J.) — Present
• Abigail Spanberger (Va.) — Present
• Elissa Slotkin (Mich.) — Present

The House has begun the manual roll call vote on the election of the Speaker of the House. Each member will be called individually, in alphabetical order, by the clerk, by groups.

Nancy Pelosi, who has served as House speaker in the 116th Congress, is on track to remain in the role. After serving 17 years as the House Democratic leader, Pelosi is running unopposed. 

In order to win the speakership, a member must receive a majority of votes. In 2018, 15 Democrats defected from Pelosi but she can only afford to lose a few in 2021. After losing a dozen seats in 2020, House Democrats are likely to control around 222 seats next term.

After the election of the Speaker of the House, the House will begin the swearing-in of members and delegates. Members will be sworn in by groups, beginning with first-term members-elect.

After his mock swearing-in Sunday in the Old Senate Chamber, top Republican Sen. John Cornyn said to Vice President Mike Pence that he told his Chief of Staff Marc Short, “we’re gonna spend a lot of quality time together on Wednesday.”

“I’ll be there. I'll be there, sir,” Pence replied.

Cornyn laughed and added: “We’ll get through it."

The Texas Republican was referring to the joint session of Congress that Pence will preside over on Jan. 6 where they’ll meet to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s win, and challenges to the results are expected.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked Pence to conduct two mock swearing ins: one with masks and one "normal" without.

Pence congratulated the Kentucky Republican and also said, “I have concluded you may have brought the largest bible and Steve Daines may have brought the smallest."