An election for speaker of the United States House of Representatives is held when the House first convenes after a general election for its two-year term, or when a sitting speaker dies, resigns, or is removed from the position. The speaker is the political and parliamentary leader of the House, and is simultaneously the body's presiding officer, the de facto leader of the body's majority party, and the institution's administrative head.[1]
A speaker election is generally held at least every two years; the House has elected a Speaker 129 times since the office was created in 1789.[2] Traditionally, each political party'scaucus/conference selects a candidate for speaker from among its senior leaders prior to the vote, and the majority party's nominee is elected. Prior to 1839, the House elected its speaker by paper ballot, but since, on all but three occasions, has done so by roll call vote.[1] A majority of votes cast (as opposed to a majority of the full membership of the House) is necessary to elect a speaker. By House precedents, votes of present are not to be included in the official vote total, only votes cast for a person by name are; even so, they have been counted on several occasions.[3]
If no candidate receives a majority vote, then the roll call is repeated until a speaker is elected. Multiple rounds of voting have been necessary 16 times since 1789, almost all before the American Civil War. In the 20th century only one election went to multiple ballots (in 1923).[2] In the 21st century, it has happened twice in the same year, in January and in October 2023.
Representatives are not restricted to voting for the candidate nominated by their party, but generally do. Additionally, as the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly state that the speaker must be an incumbent member of the House, it is permissible for representatives to vote for someone who is not a member of the House at the time, and non-members have received a few votes in various speaker elections over the past several years. Nevertheless, every person elected speaker has been a member.[4]
Altogether, 56 people have served as speaker over the past 235 years; 32 of them served multiple terms and seven of those served nonconsecutive terms. Sam Rayburn holds the record for electoral victories, with 10. He led the House from September 1940 to January 1947, January 1949 to January 1953, and January 1955 to November 1961 (a tenure totaling 17 years).[5]
An election for speaker took place on December 2, 1793, at the start of the 3rd Congress, following the 1792–93 elections, in which anti-administration candidates won a majority of the seats. The faction was unable, however, to turn this numerical advantage into victory in the election for speaker, as several of them were not in attendance for the vote. Consequently, several Anti-Administration members voted strategically for former speaker Frederick Muhlenberg, a Pro-Administration moderate, who received a majority of the votes cast in the 3rd ballot and was elected speaker. This was the first speaker of the House election to be contested primarily on a partisan basis.[10][11]
An election for speaker took place on December 7, 1795, at the start of the 4th Congress, following the 1794–95 elections. During the preceding Congress, the Pro-Administration faction coalesced into the Federalist Party, and the Anti-Administration faction into the Democratic-Republican Party. Though Democratic-Republicans won a majority of the seats in these elections, several joined with the Federalists to elect Jonathan Dayton speaker on the first ballot.[10]
An election for speaker took place on December 2, 1799, at the start of the 6th Congress, following the 1798–99 elections in which Federalists won a majority of the seats. Theodore Sedgwick received a majority of the votes cast in the 2nd ballot and was elected speaker.[10]
An election for speaker took place on May 22, 1809, at the start of the 11th Congress, following the 1808–09 elections in which the Democratic-Republicans won a majority of the seats. On the first ballot, Joseph Varnum received 60 of the 118 votes cast for individuals. In addition to these, two ballots were returned blank. The question arose over whether or not the blank ballots counted. If they were, then the total number of votes cast would be 120, making the threshold for election 61. If they were not, then the threshold would be 60 (of 118), thus making Varnum the winner. After a brief debate a motion to proceed with a second ballot was approved. Varnum received a majority of the votes cast in the 2nd ballot and was re-elected speaker.[15]
An election for speaker took place on November 4, 1811, at the start[c] of the 12th Congress, following the 1810–11 elections in which Democratic-Republicans won a majority of the seats. Henry Clay, a freshman congressman, received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[17] This marks the only time in American History a Speaker of the House was elected on their first ever day on its floor.
An election for speaker took place on December 4, 1815, at the start of the 14th Congress following the 1814–15 elections in which Democratic-Republicans won a majority of the seats. Elected again to the House, former speaker Henry Clay received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[17]
In October 1820, between the first and the second session of the 16th Congress, Henry Clay resigned as speaker so he could return to his private law practice; he kept his House seat however, until his term ended the following March (he had not run for re-election in 1820).[17] Consequently, an intra-term election for a new speaker was held on November 13–15, 1820. Coming as it did less than a year after the rancorous Missouri statehood debate, the choice of Clay's successor became mired in the continuing national debate between Northerners and Southerners over the expansion of slavery into territories and future states. The chief candidate of Northern antislavery members, John W. Taylor of New York, finally received a majority of the votes cast in the 22nd ballot and was elected speaker.[26] In addition to discord over slavery, Taylor's path to victory was made even more difficult by a division within that state's congressional delegation between supporters of Governor DeWitt Clinton and those who opposed him (known as the Bucktails).[23]
An election for speaker took place on December 1, 1823, at the start of the 18th Congress following the 1822–23 elections in which Democratic-Republicans won a majority of the seats. Elected again to the House, former speaker Henry Clay received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[17]
An election for speaker took place on December 5, 1825, at the start of the 19th Congress, following the 1824–25 elections and the 1825 presidential contingent election. In the aftermath of these elections, the Democratic-Republican Party rapidly splintered between those who supported the new president, John Quincy Adams, and those who supported Andrew Jackson. Representatives who supported Adams held a slim majority in the House. Former speaker John W. Taylor received a majority of the votes cast in the 2nd ballot and was elected speaker.[15]
An election for speaker took place on December 3, 1827, at the start of the 20th Congress following the 1826–27 elections in which Jacksonians, candidates supporting Andrew Jackson in opposition to President John Quincy Adams won a majority of the seats. Andrew Stevenson won a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[31]
An election for speaker took place on December 7, 1829, at the start of the 21st Congress following the 1828–29 elections in which Jacksonians, candidates supporting now-President Andrew Jackson won a majority of the seats. Andrew Stevenson won a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.[31]
An election for speaker took place on December 5, 1831, at the start of the 22nd Congress following the 1830–31 elections in which Jacksonians won a majority of the seats. Andrew Stevenson won a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.[31]
An election for speaker took place on December 2, 1833, at the start of the 23rd Congress following the 1832–33 elections in which Jacksonians won a majority of the seats. Andrew Stevenson won a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.[35]
In June 1834, Andrew Stevenson resigned as speaker of the House and from Congress to accept President Andrew Jackson's nomination as the U.S. minister to the United Kingdom.[37] Consequently, an intra-term election for a new speaker was held on June 2, 1834, during the 23rd Congress. The president favored James K. Polk for the post, but when members of his "Kitchen Cabinet" went to Capitol Hill and lobbied on Polk's behalf, they were rebuffed. Perceived as an encroachment upon a constitutional prerogative of the House, the effort to influence the vote splintered Jacksonian party unity and energized the opposition. John Bell ultimately received a majority of the votes cast in the 10th ballot and was elected speaker.[38][d]
An election for speaker took place on December 7, 1835, at the start of the 24th Congress, following the 1834–35 elections in which Jacksonians won a majority of the seats. James K. Polk won a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[41]
An election for speaker took place on September 4, 1837, at the start[c] of the 25th Congress, following the 1836–37 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. James K. Polk won a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.[41]
An election for speaker took place December 14–16, 1839, at the start of the 26th Congress, following the 1838–39 elections in which the Democrats won a slim majority of the seats. Balloting was delayed for two weeks as Democrats and Whigs contested the seating of five representatives-elect from New Jersey,[44] commencing only after the House resolved not to seat either delegation immediately. Once underway, the narrowly divided House was unable to make a quick choice. Finally, on the 11th ballot, Robert M. T. Hunter received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[15]
An election for speaker took place on May 31, 1841, at the start[c] of the 27th Congress, following the 1840–41 elections in which Whigs won a majority of the seats. John White won a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[47]
An election for speaker took place on December 6, 1847, at the start of the 30th Congress, following the 1846–47 elections in which the Whigs won a slim majority of the seats. Robert C. Winthrop received a majority of the votes cast in the 3rd ballot and was elected speaker.[15] The election became a multi-ballot affair when a few "Conscience Whigs" initially refused to support Winthrop because he rejected their demand for a pledge to constitute key House committees so as to favor the reporting of antislavery legislation.[52]
An election for speaker took place December 3–22, 1849, at the start of the 31st Congress, following the 1848–49 elections in which the Democrats won a slim majority of the seats. Divisions within both the Democratic Party and Whig Party over slavery plus the presence of the new Single-issue antislavery Free Soil Party led to pandemonium in the House and a protracted struggle to elect a speaker. After 59 ballots without a majority choice, the House adopted a plurality rule stating that, if after three more ballots no-one garnered a majority of the votes, the person receiving the highest number of votes on the next ensuing ballot would be declared to have been chosen speaker.[15] On the decisive 63rd ballot, Howell Cobb received the most votes, 102 votes out of 221, or nine less than a majority, and was elected speaker.[54] Altogether, 94 individual congressmen received votes in this election.[55]
An election for speaker took place on December 1, 1851, at the start of the 32nd Congress following the 1850–51 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Linn Boyd received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on December 5, 1853, at the start of the 33rd Congress following the 1852–53 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Linn Boyd received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place over the course of two months, December 3, 1855, through February 2, 1856, at the start of the 34th Congress, following the 1854–55 elections in which candidates primarily in Northern states running on various fusion tickets—included members from the Whig, Free Soil and American parties, along with members of the nascent Republican Party—grouped together under the Opposition Party label, won a majority of the seats. This new, but transitional, party sprang-up amid the fallout from the Kansas–Nebraska Act (approved by Congress in mid 1854), which had sparked violence over slavery in Kansas and hardened sectional positions on the subject.[60] Personal views on slavery drove members' words and actions during this protracted electoral contest. After 129 ballots without a majority choice, the House once again adopted a plurality rule to break the deadlock. On the decisive 133rd ballot, Nathaniel P. Banks[f] received the most votes, 103 votes out of 214, or five less than a majority, and was elected speaker.[54][60] A record 135 individual congressmen (nearly 58% of the House's membership), received votes in this, the longest speaker election in House history.[55]
An election for speaker took place on December 7, 1857, at the start of the 35th Congress, following the 1856–57 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. James L. Orr received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place over the course of eight weeks, December 5, 1859, through February 1, 1860, at the start of the 36th Congress, following the 1858–59 elections in which the Republicans won a plurality of the seats. William Pennington, a freshman congressman, received a majority of the votes cast in the 44th ballot and was elected speaker.[66] In total, 90 representatives received at least one vote during the election.[55] The bitter election dispute deepened the rift between slave states and free states and helped push Southern political leaders further toward secession.[67]
An election for speaker took place on December 4, 1865, at the start of the 39th Congress, following the 1864–65 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Schuyler Colfax received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on March 4, 1867, at the start of the 40th Congress, following the 1866–67 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Schuyler Colfax received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on March 4, 1869, at the start of the 41st Congress, following the 1868–69 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. James G. Blaine received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on March 4, 1871, at the start of the 42nd Congress, following the 1870–71 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. James G. Blaine received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on December 1, 1873, at the start of the 43rd Congress, following the 1872–73 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. James G. Blaine received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on December 6, 1875, at the start of the 44th Congress, following the 1874–75 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Michael C. Kerr, who had just returned to Congress after losing re-election two years earlier, received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[81] This was the first time in 16 years, since 1859, that Democrats controlled the House.[82]
Michael C. Kerr died on August 19, 1876,[81] between the first and second sessions of the 44th Congress. Consequently, an intra-term election for a new speaker was held on December 4, 1876, when Congress reconvened. Samuel J. Randall received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[84][85]
An election for speaker took place on March 18, 1879, at the start[c] of the 46th Congress, following the 1878–79 elections in which Democrats won only a plurality of the seats, but retained control of power with the help of several Independent Democrats. Samuel J. Randall received a slim majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.[88]
An election for speaker took place on December 5, 1881, at the start of the 47th Congress following the 1880 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. J. Warren Keifer won a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[90]
An election for speaker took place on December 3, 1883, at the start of the 48th Congress following the 1882 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. John G. Carlisle received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[92]
An election for speaker took place on December 7, 1885, at the start of the 49th Congress following the 1884 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. John G. Carlisle received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.[92]
An election for speaker took place on December 5, 1887, at the start of the 50th Congress following the 1886 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. John G. Carlisle received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.[92]
An election for speaker took place on December 2, 1889, at the start of the 51st Congress following the 1888 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Thomas B. Reed received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[96]
An election for speaker took place on December 8, 1891, at the start of the 52nd Congress following the 1890 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Charles F. Crisp received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[98]
An election for speaker took place on August 7, 1893, at the start[c] of the 53rd Congress following the 1892 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Charles F. Crisp received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.[98]
An election for speaker took place on December 2, 1895, at the start of the 54th Congress following the 1894 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Former speaker Thomas B. Reed received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[101]
An election for speaker took place on March 15, 1897, at the start[c] of the 55th Congress following the 1896 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Thomas B. Reed received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.[101]
An election for speaker took place on December 4, 1899, at the start of the 56th Congress following the 1898 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. David B. Henderson received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[104]
An election for speaker took place on December 2, 1901, at the start of the 57th Congress following the 1900 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. David B. Henderson received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.[106]
An election for speaker took place on November 9, 1903, at the start[c] of the 58th Congress following the 1902 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Joseph Cannon received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on December 4, 1905, at the start of the 59th Congress following the 1904 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Joseph Cannon received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on December 2, 1907, at the start of the 60th Congress following the 1906 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Joseph Cannon received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on March 15, 1909, at the start[c] of the 61st Congress following the 1908 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Joseph Cannon received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker. Cannon's election to a fourth term as speaker was challenged by a group of dissatisfied progressive Republicans, who voted for other people.[111][112]
An election for speaker took place on April 4, 1911, at the start[c] of the 62nd Congress following the 1910 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Champ Clark received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker. This was the first time in 16 years, since 1895, that Democrats controlled the House.[114]
An election for speaker took place on April 7, 1913, at the start[c] of the 63rd Congress following the 1912 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Champ Clark received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on December 6, 1915, at the start of the 64th Congress following the 1914 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Champ Clark received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on April 11, 1921, at the start[c] of the 67th Congress following 1920 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Frederick H. Gillett received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place December 3–5, 1923, at the start of the 68th Congress, following the 1922 elections in which the Republicans won a majority of the seats. Frederick H. Gillett received a majority of the votes cast in the 9th ballot and was re-elected speaker. Progressive Republicans had refused to support Gillett for the first eight ballots. Only after winning concessions from Republican conference leaders (a seat on the House Rules Committee and a pledge that requested House rules changes would be considered) did they agree to support him.[124]
An election for speaker took place on December 5, 1927, at the start of the 70th Congress following 1926 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Nicholas Longworth received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on April 15, 1929, at the start[c] of the 71st Congress following 1928 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Nicholas Longworth received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on December 7, 1931, at the start of the 72nd Congress, following the 1930 elections in which Republicans won a one-seat majority. However, during the 13 months between Election Day and the start of the new Congress, 14 members-elect died, including the incumbent speaker, Nicholas Longworth, who died on April 9, 1931. After the Republicans lost four of the special elections called to fill the vacancies, when Congress convened, the Democrats held a three-seat majority in the House. John N. Garner received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[131][132]
An election for speaker took place on March 9, 1933, at the start[c] of the 73rd Congress, following the 1932 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Henry T. Rainey received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[134]
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 1935, on the opening day of the 74th Congress,[j] two months after the 1934 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Joseph Byrns received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[138]
An election for speaker took place on January 5, 1937, on the opening day of the 75th Congress, two months after the 1936 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. William B. Bankhead received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 1939, on the opening day of the 76th Congress, two months after the 1938 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. William B. Bankhead received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 1941, on the opening day of the 77th Congress, two months after the 1940 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Sam Rayburn received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 6, 1943, on the opening day of the 78th Congress, two months after the 1942 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Sam Rayburn received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 1945, on the opening day of the 79th Congress, two months after the 1944 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Sam Rayburn received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 1947, on the opening day of the 80th Congress, two months after the 1946 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Joseph W. Martin Jr. received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker. This was the first time in 16 years, since 1931, that Republicans controlled the House.
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 1949, on the opening day of the 81st Congress, two months after the 1948 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Former speaker Sam Rayburn received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 1951, on the opening day of the 82nd Congress, two months after the 1950 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Sam Rayburn received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 1953, on the opening day of the 83rd Congress, two months after the 1952 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Former speaker Joseph W. Martin Jr. received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[152]
An election for speaker took place on January 5, 1955, on the opening day of the 84th Congress, two months after the 1954 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Former speaker Sam Rayburn received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker, becoming the first member since Henry Clay in the 1820s to have a third stint as speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 1957, on the opening day of the 85th Congress, two months after the 1956 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Sam Rayburn received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 7, 1959, on the opening day of the 86th Congress, two months after the 1958 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Sam Rayburn received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 1961, on the opening day of the 87th Congress, two months after the 1960 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Sam Rayburn received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
Sam Rayburn died on November 16, 1961, between the first and second sessions of 87th Congress.[5] Consequently, an intra-term election for a new speaker was held on January 10, 1962, when Congress reconvened. John W. McCormack received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[158]
An election for speaker took place on January 9, 1963, on the opening day of the 88th Congress, two months after the 1962 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. John W. McCormack received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 4, 1965, on the opening day of the 89th Congress, two months after the 1964 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. John W. McCormack received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 10, 1967, on the opening day of the 90th Congress, two months after the 1966 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. John W. McCormack received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 1969, on the opening day of the 91st Congress, two months after the 1968 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. John W. McCormack received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 21, 1971, on the opening day of the 92nd Congress, two months after the 1970 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Carl Albert received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[164]
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 1973, on the opening day of the 93rd Congress, two months after the 1972 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Carl Albert received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 14, 1975, on the opening day of the 94th Congress, two months after the 1974 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Carl Albert received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 4, 1977, on the opening day of the 95th Congress, two months after the 1976 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Tip O'Neill received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 15, 1979, on the opening day of the 96th Congress, two months after the 1978 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Tip O'Neill received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 5, 1981, on the opening day of the 97th Congress, two months after the 1980 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Tip O'Neill received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 1983, on the opening day of the 98th Congress, two months after the 1982 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Tip O'Neill received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 1985, on the opening day of the 99th Congress, two months after the 1984 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Tip O'Neill received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 6, 1987, on the opening day of the 100th Congress, two months after the 1986 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Jim Wright received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 1989, on the opening day of the 101st Congress, two months after the 1988 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Jim Wright received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
In June 1989, Jim Wright resigned as speaker of the House and from Congress amid a House Ethics Committee investigation into his financial dealings.[175] Consequently, an intra-term election for a new speaker was held on June 6, 1989, during the 101st Congress. Tom Foley received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[176]
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 1991, on the opening day of the 102nd Congress, two months after the 1990 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Tom Foley received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 5, 1993, on the opening day of the 103rd Congress, two months after the 1992 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Tom Foley received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 4, 1995, on the opening day of the 104th Congress, two months after the 1994 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Newt Gingrich received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker. This was the first time in 40 years, since 1955, that Republicans controlled the House.[180]
An election for speaker took place on January 7, 1997, on the opening day of the 105th Congress, two months after the 1996 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Newt Gingrich received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker. A number of Republicans did not support Gingrich's bid for a second term, and a few of them voted for other people. It was the first time in half a century in which votes were cast for someone besides the Democratic or Republican nominee.[183]
An election for speaker took place on January 6, 1999, on the opening day of the 106th Congress, two months after the 1998 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Dennis Hastert received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 2001, on the opening day of the 107th Congress, two months after the 2000 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Dennis Hastert received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 7, 2003, on the opening day of the 108th Congress, two months after the 2002 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Dennis Hastert received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 4, 2005, on the opening day of the 109th Congress, two months after the 2004 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Dennis Hastert received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 4, 2007, on the opening day of the 110th Congress, two months after the 2006 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Nancy Pelosi received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker, becoming the first woman speaker of the House in U.S. history.[189] This was the first time in 12 years, since 1995, that the Democrats controlled the House.
An election for speaker took place on January 6, 2009, on the opening day of the 111th Congress, two months after the 2008 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Nancy Pelosi received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 2013, at the start of the 113th Congress, two months after the 2012 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. John Boehner received a majority of the votes cast, despite the defections of several members from his own party, and was re-elected speaker.[194]
An election for speaker took place on January 6, 2015, at the start of the 114th Congress, two months after the 2014 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. John Boehner received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker, even though Freedom Caucus Republicans chose not to vote for him.[196]
On September 25, 2015, John Boehner formally announced his intention to resign from the speakership and the House.[199] Consequently, an intra-term election for a new speaker was held on October 29, 2015, during the 114th Congress. Paul Ryan received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker.[200]
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 2017, on the opening day of the 115th Congress, two months after the 2016 elections in which Republicans won a majority of the seats. Paul Ryan received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.[202]
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 2019, on the opening day of the 116th Congress, two months after the 2018 elections in which Democrats won a majority of the seats. Former speaker Nancy Pelosi received a majority of the votes cast and was elected speaker, even though several Democrats did not vote for her.[204] With this victory, she became the first person since Sam Rayburn in the 1950s to return to the speakership after losing it.[205]
An election for speaker took place on January 3, 2021, at the start of the 117th Congress, two months after the 2020 elections in which Democrats won a slim majority of the seats. In a break with tradition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all House members-elect did not gather together in the chamber to vote and record their presence, but rather, were summoned to the chambers in seven groups of about 72 persons.[207] Nancy Pelosi received a majority of the votes cast and was re-elected speaker.
An election for speaker was held January 3–7, 2023, at the start of the 118th Congress, two months after the 2022 elections in which Republicans gained the House with a thin majority. Kevin McCarthy received a majority of the votes cast in the 15th ballot and was elected speaker. Due to division within the House Republican Conference, no candidate received a majority of the votes on the first ballot, necessitating what became the longest multiple-ballot speaker election since before the Civil War. McCarthy's victory came when the remaining six anti-McCarthy holdouts voted "present" on the 15th ballot, thus reducing the threshold of votes needed for a majority to 215 members.[209]House Democratic Caucus members voted unanimously for Hakeem Jeffries; this was the first time since 2009 that all present Democratic members voted for the caucus's speaker nominee.[210]
On October 3, 2023, Kevin McCarthy was removed from the speakership through a motion to vacate.[214] Consequently, an intra-term election for a new speaker was held on October 17–25, during the 118th Congress. Mike Johnson received a majority of the votes cast in the fourth ballot and was elected speaker. He was the fourth person the Republican Conference selected as its nominee for House speaker after Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise, and Tom Emmer were unable to unify conference members around their candidacies.[215]
↑ Though Bell won the special election thanks to opposition support, he promoted President Jackson's agenda throughout the balance of the 23rd Congress. Bell openly broke with the president, however, in 1835, by endorsing Tennessee Senator Hugh White, rather than Democratic Party nominee Martin Van Buren, as Jackson's successor. Bell was branded a "hypocritical apostate" and expelled from the party.[39]
↑ Because the 1849 election of Howell Cobb as speaker came as a result of an unconventional rules change, the House adopted a resolution declaring that Cobb had been duly chosen speaker by House members.[57]
↑ Nathaniel Banks had been a Democrat during the 33rd Congress, but was re-elected to the 34th Congress on the American (Know Nothing) ticket. During his tenure as speaker, Banks changed his political affiliation again, joining the new Republican Party and supporting its first presidential nominee, John C. Frémont, in the 1856 presidential election.[61]
↑ Because the 1856 election of Nathaniel Banks as speaker came as a result of an unconventional rules change, the House adopted a resolution declaring that Banks had been duly chosen speaker by House members.[64]
↑ As representatives resigned from Congress to join the Confederacy, or were expelled for supporting the rebellion, their seats were declared vacant. Some representatives were seated during the 37th Congress from: Louisiana (2 of 4), Tennessee (3 of 10) and Virginia (4 of 13). None were seated from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina or Texas (39 representatives altogether).[70]
↑ Table shows first ballot vote tally after vote shifts; votes before shifts were: Galusha A. Grow–71, Francis P. Blair Jr.–40, John J. Crittenden–12, John S. Phelps–7, Clement Vallandingham–7, Erastus Corning–6, Samuel S. Cox–6, William A. Richardson–3, John A. McClernand–2, Charles B. Calvert–1, John W. Crisfield–1, John W. Noell–1, George H. Pendleton–1, and Thaddeus Stevens–1 (total votes: 159/votes necessary: 80).[72]
↑ The 74th Congress was the first U.S. Congress to commence on third day of January, as prescribed by the Twentieth Amendment, Section 2, which had been adopted in 1933.[136][137]
1 2 Robert Michel and Robert Walker each received one vote in the 1997 speaker election, even though neither was a member of the House at the time.[182]
1 2 3 Allen West, Colin Powell and David M. Walker each received votes in the 2013 speaker election, even though none of them were a member of the House at the time.[182]
1 2 3 Rand Paul, Colin Powell and Jeff Sessions each received one vote in the January 2015 speaker election, even though none of them were a member of the House at the time.[197]
↑ Colin Powell received one vote in the October 2015 speaker election, even though he was not a member of the House at the time.[197]
1 2 3 Tammy Duckworth, Stacey Abrams and Joe Biden each received votes in the 2019 speaker election, even though none of them were a member of the House at the time.[197]
↑ Tammy Duckworth received a vote in the 2021 speaker election, even though she was not a member of the House.[197]
↑ Lee Zeldin received a vote on the 1st ballot of the January 2023 speaker election, even though he was not a member of the House.
↑ Lee Zeldin received votes on the 1st ballot of the October 2023 speaker election, even though he was not a member of the House.
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↑ "Congress of the United States". Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. Alexandria, Virginia. November 5, 1811. Retrieved July 22, 2019– via Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress.
↑ Richards, Miles S. (August 2, 2016). "Cheves, Langdon". South Carolina Encyclopedia. Columbia, South Carolina: University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
↑ Mcfarland, Daniel M. (1996). "Williams, Lewis". NCpedia. Encyclopedia of North Carolina, University of North Carolina Press. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
↑ Johnston, Alexander (1899). Lalor, John J. (ed.). "Broad Seal War". Cyclopædia of political science, political economy, and of the political history of the United States. New York City: Maynard, Merrill, and Co. p.309. Retrieved March 1, 2019– via Hathi Trust Digital Library.
↑ Brooks, Corey M. (2016). Liberty Power: Antislavery Third Parties and the Transformation of American Politics. University of Chicago Press. pp.125–127. ISBN978-0-226-30728-2.
↑ Crenshaw, Ollinger (December 1942). "The Speakership Contest of 1859-1860: John Sherman's Election a Cause of Disruption?". Mississippi Valley Historical Review. 29 (3). Oxford University Press on behalf of Organization of American Historians: 323–338. doi:10.2307/1897913. JSTOR1897913.
↑ Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress: 1789-1989. Prentice Hall. p.114. ISBN0-02-920170-5.
↑ Grant, James (2011). Mr. Speaker!: The Life and Times of Thomas B. Reed – The Man Who Broke the Filibuster. New York City: Simon & Schuster. pp.253–254. ISBN978-1-4165-4493-7.
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