Virginia congresswoman one of 12 Democrats to oppose Pelosi’s bid for speaker

Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California reclaimed leadership of the House on Thursday in a vote that saw 15 members of her party vote for someone else or for no one at all.

One of those 15 is Virginia congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, who represents the Commonwealth’s 7th Congressional District. She had previously announced going into the vote that she would likely vote against Pelosi, or for someone else entirely.

Rep.-elect Abigail Spanberger of Virginia said Friday she would vote against House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on the floor of the House, marking at least 18 Democrats who have publicly and recently committed to opposing the California lawmaker’s bid to return to being House speaker.

The victory for the newly minted speaker followed an election year where the prospect of her controlling the House became a major point of contention — appearing frequently in GOP attack lines and in vows from some members of her own party to oppose her in an eventual race for speaker.

Pelosi ultimately received 220 votes in her favor against GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the chamber’s top Republican. A handful of Republicans opposed McCarthy, with most of that group opting for GOP Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.

Pelosi’s opposition largely voted for Democratic Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois or other Democrats, while three chose no candidate at all. Rep. Spanberger was one of four Democrats who voted for Bustos.

Here’s a breakdown of which members broke from the rest of their party:

Democrats who chose other names

1. New York Rep. Anthony Brindisi voted for former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden.
2. Colorado Rep. Jason Crow voted for Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth.
3. South Carolina Rep. Joe Cunningham voted for Bustos.
4. Maine Rep. Jared Golden voted for Bustos.
5. Wisconsin Rep. Ron Kind voted for Georgia Democratic Rep. John Lewis.
6. Pennsylvania Rep. Conor Lamb voted for Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Joe Kennedy III.
7. Utah Rep. Ben McAdams voted for Florida Democratic Rep. Stephanie Murphy.
8. New York Democratic Rep. Kathleen Rice voted for former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, the former Democratic nominee for governor.
9. New York Democratic Rep. Max Rose voted for Duckworth.
10. Oregon Rep. Kurt Schrader voted for Marcia Fudge.
11. New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill voted for Bustos.
12. Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger voted for Bustos.

Democrats who voted ‘present’ or ‘no’

1. Tennessee Rep. Jim Cooper voted “present.”
2. Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin voted “present.”
3. New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew voted “no,” which was later announced as “present.”

Republicans against McCarthy

1. Michigan Rep. Justin Amash voted for Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie.
2. Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs voted for Jordan.
3. Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar voted for Jordan.
4. Georgia Rep. Jody Hice voted for Jordan.
5. Massie voted for Jordan.
6. Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry voted for Jordan.