Pelosi, Reid Retain Leadership Posts

November 19, 2008 8:45 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Meeting for party leadership elections, Democratic caucuses in the House and Senate on Tuesday voted to keep House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) in their current posts.

In the House, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MC) will remain as majority leader, and Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) a majority whip. As earlier reported, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) will continue to chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee but will also serve as assistant to the Speaker.

The only significant change in the House Democratic leadership was the election of Rep. John Larson (D-CT) as caucus chairman. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) left the post after agreeing to be White House chief of staff.

Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), who was assistant to the Speaker, will succeed Larson as vice chair of the caucus.

In a press conference after the election, Pelosi said, ""How proud we are of our new House Democratic majority. For two elections in a row, we have wave victories. That's historic. Historic. Just two years and about one month ago, House Democrats stood at 32 votes behind, and now we are 80 plus - a change of over 110 votes. That change brings with it tremendous responsibility. The American people have great expectations for what this Congress can do, working with the great President-elect Barack Obama."

Reid was also re-elected to lead Senate Democrats, who may still increase their 58-seat majority once the results of two races are known. "This year has been particularly challenging for all Americans, and with a narrow majority, passing timely legislation has at times been difficult. But I look forward to again leading my colleagues into the next session with a promise of unity and bipartisanship to deliver the results that we as a country need," Reid said in a statement.

The 111th Congress will convene on Jan. 6, 2009. It will be the first time in 15 years that Democrats have control of Congress and the White House.