By Thomas McKinless

House Democrats nominated long-time Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi to be speaker for the 116th Congress, in a caucus vote Wednesday where no challenger materialized. “We had a most unifying session just now,” Pelosi said at a news briefing shortly after the closed-door vote. “Are there dissenters? Yes, but I expect to have a powerful vote as we go forward.” The House floor vote for speaker will take place in January when the new Congress gavels in.