Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi today in DC.
Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi today in DC. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Back in 2007, California Democrat Nancy Pelosi became the first woman elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. Then, in 2011, Republican wins in midterm elections forced her to pass the speaker's gavel to Republican John Boehner. He then passed the gavel to Republican Paul Ryan in 2015.

But today, Pelosi won enough votes from the newly sworn-in Democratic House majority to put the gavel back in her hands. Midterm elections have consequences.

There had been some challenges to Pelosi's run for speaker, but only 15 Democrats ended up voting against her today. No Democrats from Washington State were on the "No" list.