Texas rep. nominates Gingrich for Speaker

Former Speaker and failed presidential candidate Newt Gingrich was nominated for the position of Speaker on Wednesday by conservative Rep. Louis Gohmert (R-Texas). There was no second.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) was nominated for another term by sometime-rival Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.). Boehner in turn nominated Cantor.

The Republican conference formally then elected Boehner as its leader and Cantor as deputy by acclamation.

As GOP leader, Boehner will formally get a second term as Speaker in January. 

Under GOP rules, the Speaker does not have to be a sitting member of Congress. The Constitution is silent on the question.

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