Nancy Pelosi secures US House speakership

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Nancy Pelosi won Thursday the speakership of the House of Representatives, overcoming earlier threats from the progressive wing of her party to withhold support.

Pelosi, 78, took the speaker's gavel for a second time following a 220-192 vote, returning her to the post she first held 11 years ago.

She remains the only woman to have assumed the top spot in the House.

While Pelosi's caucus in the 116th Congress has shown early signs of divides, rebel Democrats appeared, for now, to put aside their differences as the solidly-Democratic chamber prepares to take on U.S. President Donald Trump.

An already simmering budget battle with the president has led to a partial government shutdown that has worsened over the course of its nearly two-week span.