In Rebuff To Pelosi, Democrats Elect Hoyer As Majority Leade

UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 16: Appearing in front of the cameras just after the Democratic caucus elected its leadership for the 110th Congress are: Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., chairman of the Democratic Caucus; James E. Clyburn, majority whip; incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; and John P. Murtha, D-Pa., who ran against victor Steny Hoyer, D-Md., for majority leader. In a stunning push-back against incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Democrats elected Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland on Thursday as their majority leader for the 110th Congress. By a vote of 149-86, Hoyer defeated John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania, whom Pelosi had endorsed Nov. 12 and lobbied for vigorously. That leaves Pelosi locked in an uneasy partnership with her leading rival, a man she considers disloyal. Hoyer, a 25-year House veteran, has served as minority whip for the past four years, and Pelosi has resented his occasional departures from the party line she was attempting to lay down. Pelosi insisted the leadership would survive the battle. "Our colleagues chose our distinguished whip, Mr. Hoyer, to be the Democratic leader of the House. ... I look forward to working with him in a very unified way to bring our country to a new direction for all Americans, not just the privileged few," she said afterwards. (Photo by Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images)