Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, was re-elected to a third term as House speaker on Jan. 6, 2015.(Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo, European Pressphoto Agency)
WASHINGTON — Rep. John Boehner was re-elected Tuesday to a third term as U.S. House speaker after facing down a conservative rebellion that sought to oust him from the office.
As of early Tuesday, 15 Republicans had been on record saying they would not vote for Boehner. During the vote, another 10 lawmakers joined them.
In the end, Boehner was elected with 216 votes out of the 408 votes cast.
But with Republicans controlling a 247-seat majority in the new Congress, Boehner prevailed in the end. The ongoing divisions, however, will continue to present a challenge to GOP leaders in advancing a legislative agenda in a Congress now fully controlled by Republicans.
GOP Reps. Louie Gohmert of Texas, Ted Yoho of Florida and Daniel Webster of Florida were all nominated for speaker by Boehner opponents, Reps. Tom Massie of Kentucky, Jim Bridenstine of Oklahoma and Steve King of Iowa.
Across the Capitol, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., assumed the majority leader post also noon. Senate Republicans picked up nine seats in November, delivering a 54-46 majority in this Congress.
Boehner was first handed the speaker's gavel in 2011, following the 2010 Tea Party wave. In 2013, a dozen lawmakers opposed Boehner's re-election as speaker, but he won in the end despite some dramatic moments on the House floor. The 2014 midterm elections grew the House GOP majority to its largest since the Hoover administration — a factor that Boehner allies say make it hard to build a case against his leadership beyond the GOP's fringe members.
House and Senate leaders have said the GOP will prove it can be a responsible, governing majority, but House Republicans have already been beset by image problems in recent weeks. Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., resigned following a guilty plea to tax evasion charges, and it was revealed that Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., addressed a white supremacy group more than a decade ago. Scalise has apologized and disavowed the group's ideology. He also has the public support of his leadership team and other key lawmakers, despite the calls from some liberal groups and conservative activists that he step down.
Boehner and McConnell will deliver remarks on their respective chamber floors today outlining their goals for the coming Congress. The first order of business in the Senate is a renewed effort to build the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
The bill enjoys bipartisan support and is expected to finally pass Congress after a six-year delay. The bill's lead co-sponsors, Sens. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., announced Tuesday that the bill has 60 co-sponsors, which is enough to fend off a filibuster threat. The legislation has already passed the House several times with overwhelming support.
The White House has indictated that President Obama would veto it when it reaches his desk, and Democratic opponents of the pipeline believe they have the support to sustain that veto.
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