Boehner Not Being Challenged In Vote For Speaker

The 113th Congress is now in session. The gavels have been dropped in both the House and Senate. So, work on the People's Business has begun.

The first bit of news to watch for is the election of the speaker in the House. It's expected that the incumbent, Republican Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, will win more than the 218 votes needed to keep that post. We'll watch and update as the story develops.

Democrats, with the help of two independents, have a 55-45 edge in the Senate. Republicans control the House, with a 234-199 advantage in seats (there are now two vacancies).

Update at 12:34 p.m. ET. No Challenge:

The clerk just asked if there are any other nominations. There were none. So, Boehner is not being challenged from within his party. That means — unless things have turned upside down — he will be reelected speaker. Earlier, Rep. McMorris Rodgers said he had the unanimous support of the GOP conference.

Update at 12:33 p.m. ET. Pelosi Is Nominated:

Though Democrats don't have the numbers to elect a speaker on their own, they do have the right to put forward a nominee. Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., just nominated former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Update at 12:31 p.m. ET. Boehner Is Nominated:

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., just put the speaker's name forward.

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