Democrats in the US House of Representatives chose Nancy Pelosi, a San Francisco congresswoman, as their nominee for House Speaker following the party's sweeping victory in the November 7 midterm elections. When the new Congress convenes in January, Pelosi will become the highest-ranking woman ever to hold a leadership position in the US legislature, third in the line of succession after the president and vice president.
In an early sign of internal party friction, Pelosi's preferred candidate for majority leader, John Murtha, lost decisively to Maryland representative Steny Hoyer by a vote of 149 to 86. Murtha, a 74-year-old Vietnam veteran and vocal advocate for withdrawing US troops from Iraq, had argued the majority leader post should be used to press for a new military strategy.
Hoyer, 67, adopted a more measured tone, saying the party would seek a policy change in Iraq while working across the aisle with President George W. Bush. His cautious approach signaled that Democrats, now sharing legislative responsibility, may avoid sharply confrontational antiwar positions.
Pelosi called for unity after a divisive election season, urging reconciliation within the party and with political opponents. Democrats won control of both the House and Senate, dealing a significant setback to Bush and the Republicans with two years remaining in his presidency.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in November 2006, in its own words.