The House on Thursday elected Rep. Paul Ryan to serve as its 54th speaker, as Republicans rallied behind the Wisconsin Republican after weeks of infighting over who should take the gavel from retiring Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
Ryan, 45, won a majority of votes in the House, despite only getting the support of 200 Republicans in an internal election Wednesday. Many of the 43 conservatives who cast their ballot yesterday for Rep. Daniel Webster, of Florida, switched their allegiance to Ryan today.
Ryan easily got the 218 votes he needed to secure a majority of House members, and beat Pelosi 236-184.
Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla., got nine votes from conservative Republicans who were holding him out as an alternative candidate. Members voting for Webster were Reps. Dave Brat, Va.; Curt Clawson, Fla.; Louie Gohmert, Texas; Paul Gosar, Ariz.; Walter Jones, N.C.; Thomas Massie, Ky.; Bill Posey, Fla.; Randy Weber, Texas; and Ted Yoho, Fla.
Ryan won the support of conservatives after promising he’ll make changes to the House rules that will allow them to have a greater say in legislation. In his inaugural address, he was expected to ask House lawmakers “to put the past behind them,” and instead focus on an agenda that will help working families, according to excerpts of his inaugural address.
Ryan takes the job after serving as chair of the Budget and Ways and Means committees.
Ryan was nominated by the GOP Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, of Washington, who noted Ryan’s initial reluctance to run for speaker.
“In the House, we are eager for a fresh start that will make us more effective to fulfill our obligation to reflect the will of the people,” McMorris Rodgers said. “I can say with all candor, he did not seek this office, the office sought him.”
He takes the gavel after the House cleared a major budget hurdle on Wednesday by passing a two-year deal to raise federal spending, suspend the debt limit and reform the Social Security Disability Insurance program. The deal was negotiated by Boehner, who wanted to ensure he wasn’t leaving the matter for Ryan.
Ryan, of Janesville, Wisconsin, invited friends and family to attend his election, including former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, of Kansas, and Mitt Romney, who tapped him as his vice presidential running mate in his unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2012.
Ryan is the youngest lawmaker elected to serve as speaker in 150 years, and his youth was part of the appeal to lawmakers who sought him to run for the job.
Outgoing Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who is among the leaders who asked Ryan to run, called him “an innovative thinker” with the right skill set to do the job.
After Ryan is sworn in by the longest serving member of the House, Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., he’ll have lunch in the House members dining room with his family, including wife Janna and their three children.
