Sunday is the 117th Congress’ oath, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, likely to win re-election despite a shrinking Democratic majority.
Pelosi argues unopposed, but because Democrats have a smaller majority than the previous congress, she can only afford to pull off a small handful of lawmakers and prefer to enroll someone else.
“Nancy Pelosi will be the next speaker of the House of Representatives,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y., told Fox News Sunday. “There is incredible enthusiasm for Speaker Pelosi because she did the job.”
In a letter to colleagues Sunday morning, Pelosi said the new Congress would meet “during a time of extraordinary trouble.”
“Each of our communities has been drastically affected by the pandemic and economic crisis: 350,000 tragic deaths, more than 20 million infections, millions of people without work – a toll that goes almost mentally beyond,” she said. “Thank you for your generosity of spirit and patriotism for tackling this challenge for the people.”
“I am very grateful for the trust that members have placed in me,” she added. “I am confident that today’s election of the Speaker will show a united Democratic caucus to be ready for the challenges ahead.”
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the voice for the speaker – which needs to be personally executed – will look different from recent years. Members will be divided into separate groups rather than having all the elected representatives on the floor at the same time. It is expected to take a few hours after it starts Sunday afternoon.
At least a handful of members will not be present for the vote, including Representative Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., Who is battling pancreatic cancer, and Representative David Valadao, R-Ca., And Representative Maria Elvira Salazar, R – Fla., Who recently tested positive for Covid-19.
In a statement on Sunday afternoon, dr. Brian Monahan, attending physician of Congress, announced the establishment of an area above the house floor for members who were exposed to Covid-19 but who tested negative so they could vote personally while remaining a Capitol official in quarantine . said two Democrats and one Republican used this option. It is not yet known which members do this.
“The highest possible precautions have been implemented, including separate, improved ventilation in this space and separate holding facilities for members using Gallery 4,” Monahan said. “This step will only be necessary until proxy voting is resumed as an option for affected members.”
Pelosi won the preliminary vote for a speaker with a lead of 220 to 192 over House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
Senators were also sworn in on Sunday. The ceremonies were the end of David Perdue’s tenure. Perdue left his seat in Georgia vacant until he or Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff was certified as the winner of one of Tuesday’s wide-ranging Senate run-offs in that state. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., Will also be put in a run-off Tuesday, but she remains in her seat through the election because she was appointed earlier to continue a term that does not expire Sunday.
The Senate now stands at 51 Republican senators and 48 Democrats after the swearing-in ceremonies. Should the Democrats prevail in Georgia in the end, the split would be 50-50, with the elected vice president, Kamala Harris, the ballot paper, which would give Democrats the majority.
Alex Moe contributed.