US House Democrats Elect First Woman as Leader

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 15, 2002

US House Democrats Elect First Woman as Leader

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Democrats in the US House of Representatives elected California congress woman Nancy Pelosi as the party leader Thursday, making the 62-year-old liberal the first woman to head either party in the Congress.

Pelosi will take over as the minority leader in the new House of Representatives that convenes in January, replacing Richard Gephardt of Missouri who stepped down last week from the post he held for eight years after failing to lead the Democrats back intothe majority in the Nov.5 mid-term elections.

Pelosi, who represents San Francisco, became the highest ranking woman ever in Congress earlier this year when she won the post of House Democratic whip, the party's No. 2 position.

In Thursday's election, Pelosi won 177 votes, while 29 votes went to Rep. Harold Ford Jr. Of Tennessee. Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, who entered the race Wednesday, withdrew shortly before the vote.

Pelosi would be charged with reviving the House Democrats afterthey lost several seats in the mid-term elections to Republicans, who have controlled the House since 1994.

Pelosi has led House Democrat to oppose President George W. Bush on such issues as Iraq, and the structure of the new HomelandSecurity Department.

She argues that the Democrats must more aggressively underscoreits differences with Republicans on various matters, but has also promised to reach out to more moderate and conservative members ofher own party who are concerned that too liberal stances would frighten away centrist voters.

Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland was elected to replace Pelosi as whip and Robert Menendez of New Jersey narrowly won the post of chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, the party's No. 3 position.

The House Democratic vote wrap up leadership elections by both parties for the 108th Congress. House Republicans, and Senate Republicans and Democrats on Wednesdayre-elected their top three leaders: House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois, Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi and Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota.

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