Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Pelosi, 80, who has led House Democrats since 2003 and is the only woman ever to serve as Speaker, didn’t have to face down a rebellion in her ranks like she did two years ago, when 15 Democrats voted against her on the House floor.

Democrats begin the 117th Congress with a 222-211 majority, after losing about a dozen seats in the November elections.