The new Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, received nine votes from the New Jersey delegation.
The only real surprise was Rep. Andy Kim (D-Marlton), who broke a campaign pledge in his first vote as a Member of Conrgess and voted for Pelosi.
Two other freshmen Democrats, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) and Jefferson Van Drew (D-Dennis), did not support Pelosi. Sherrill voted for Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Illinois), while Van Drew voted “no.” Since “no” was not a candidate for speaker, his first vote was recorded as “present.”
Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff), Donald Norcross (D-Camden), Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch), Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-Paterson), Donald Payne, Jr. (D-Newark), Albio Sires (D-West New York), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) voted for Pelosi. All eight had previously indicated their intention to do so.
Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Hamilton), the only Republican in New Jersey’s congressional delegation, voted for Kevin McCarthy for Speaker. McCarthy will be the House Minority Leader.