Boehner Re-Elected Speaker

McConnell Takes the Gavel as Senate Majority Leader The 114th Congress convened this week with Republicans controlling both chambers for the first time in eight years.  The first order of business in the House of Representatives was to re-elect John Boehner (R-Ohio), who overcame a small challenge from within his party, as Speaker of the House.  In the Senate, Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) takes over as Majority Leader. Speaker Boehner defeated Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi by a margin of 216-164 with 24 of his fellow Republicans voting against.  Representative Daniel Webster (R-Fla.), who waged a last-minute and ill-fated campaign for Speaker, received 12 votes.  The top three House Republican leaders for the 114th Congress are Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), and Majority Whip Steve Scalise (La.).  On the Democrat side, Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Steny Hoyer (Md.) return as the Minority Leader and Minority Whip, respectively. The top three Republicans in the Senate for the 114th Congress are McConnell, Majority Whip John Cornyn (Texas) and Conference Chairman John Thune (S.D.).  The Senate Democrats will be lead by Minority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) and Assistant Minority Leader Dick Durbin (Illinois). AGC looks forward to working with the new Congress to advance a pro-construction legislative agenda. For more information, please contact Sean O’Neill at (202) 547-8892 or oneills@agc.org.