Boehner Indeed a Sore Winner

Twenty-five Republican members of the House correctly voted against John Boehner for House Majority Leader.

House Speaker John Boehner was elected to his third term as the No. 1 Republican in the lower chamber, but not without resistance from more than two-dozen fellow GOP lawmakers.

Boehner collected 216 votes. Former speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., his closest rival, received 164.

Republicans needed 29 defectors to defeat Boehner. Twenty-five lawmakers did not vote for the newly elected House Speaker, the most no votes cast against a speaker in the last century. One of those members — Rep. Brian Babin of Texas — voted “present,” which lowered the threshold for the number of votes Boehner needed to win the speakership.

Of the alternatives to Boehner, Rep. Daniel Webster of Florida earned 12 votes. Three lawmakers voted for Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas, and two cast votes for Rep. Ted Yoho of Florida.