HOUSE Speaker Nancy Pelosi could be voted out of her role today, even though Democrats still maintain a majority in the House of Representatives.
The new House is expected to be sworn in today, with the election of the speaker expected to be announced around 5.30 or 6pm.
Even though Democrats still have a majority in the House, the vote will depend on who shows up for the Sunday session.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic may make it difficult for certain members to come, which could put Pelosi's position in jeopardy.
All members of the House will need to show up at noon today and the meeting will kick off with a prayer and a roll call.
Due to the pandemic, the roll call will have to be split into separate sessions to avoid having all 400-plus members of the House inside a room at once, according to Fox News.
After that, the vote for a House Speaker will begin with House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries nominating Pelosi and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney nominating House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
The House will then begin another roll call where representatives will cast their votes.
Pelosi on Sunday morning sent a letter to her Democratic colleagues expressing gratitude that she would again be nominated as speaker, and confidence that the party will come together to elect her.
"I am enormously grateful for the trust that Members have placed in me," Pelosi wrote.
"I am confident that the Speaker's election today will show a united Democratic caucus ready to meet the challenges ahead, and that we are prepared to set our country on a new course."
Because the Democrats still have a 222-210 majority in the House (there are currently three vacancies), it is likely that Pelosi will win the speaker election, however, it could be incredibly close.
If the House begins with 432 members and everybody shows up, Pelosi needs 217 votes to win.
Some Democrats, like Rep Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, have said they will not support Pelosi, Fox News reports.
If neither candidate secures 217 votes, the House will keep voting until a speaker is elected.
The House cannot move on until it has a speaker.
The winner will then swear in the rest of the members of the House, again, in separate groups due to coronavirus restrictions.
Pelosi has served as a California representative since 1987, and has served as House Speaker since 2019, and previously, from 2007 to 2011.
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