In a historic vote, the Democratic Caucus on November 14 elected Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to be Minority Leader for the 108th Congress. It marks the first time that a woman has been elected to lead either political party in Congress. Rep. Pelosi handily defeated, 177-29, Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN) to fill the position vacated by Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-MO), who stepped down. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) dropped out of the race moments before the vote.
On the other side of the aisle, Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH) was elected Chair of the Republican Conference, the highest position ever attained by a woman in the majority party. She defeated Reps. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) and Jim Ryun (R-KS) to fill the position vacated by retiring Rep. J.C. Watts (R-OK).
Rep. Melissa Hart (R-PA) was defeated by Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) in her bid for Vice-Chair of the Republican Conference, a position vacated by Rep. Pryce.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) was narrowly defeated, 104-103, by Rep. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) in her bid for Chair of the Democratic Caucus.
On the Senate side, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) will serve as Vice-Chair of the Republican Conference, a position she held during the 107th Congress. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) will serve as Secretary of the Democratic Caucus, also a position she held in the 107th Congress.
