Nancy Pelosi narrowly re-elected as House speaker

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Nancy Pelosi has been narrowly re-elected as speaker, giving her the reins of Democrats’ slender House majority as President-elect Joe Biden sets a challenging course of producing legislation to tackle the pandemic, revive the economy and address other party priorities.

The California Democrat, who has led her party in the House since 2003 and is the only woman to be speaker, had been widely expected to retain her post.