Host: This has been a day of
momentous change in the U.S.
House of representatives.
Republicans begin laying plans
after finally nailing down a
majority with at least 218 seats
and with the loss of the house
confirmed the speaker
surrendered her longtime
position as democratic leader.
Congressional correspondent Lisa
Desjardins begins our coverage.
Reporter: At the capital --
>> The house will be in order.
Reporter: A changing of the
guard.
>> With great confidence and our
caucus I will not seek
reelection.
Reporter: A point in it moment
for speaker Pelosi as she
announces she will step aside
from her longtime leadership
role.
>> It has been with great pride
that I have seen this body grow
more reflective of our great
nation, our beautiful nation.
[Applause]
>> The honorable Nancy Pelosi as
a member from the state of
California.
Reporter: A towering figure in
American politics in 2007 she
became the first and so far only
woman to be house speaker.
>> Never what I have thought I
have thought I would go from
homemaker to house speaker.
Reporter: After two decades in
power she will step out of
leadership but remain in the
house.
Democrats will keep her
expertise and voice.
>> For my dear husband Paul
--
reporter: Last month her husband
was attacked in their home
leaving him hospitalized.
She has said the violence
influenced her decision.
>> You see the rhetoric going on
that day and you heard the
rhetoric coming from that man
going into my home.
You could see the threats.
Reporter: The anticipated and so
far sole candidate to take her
job is Democrat Jeffries from
New York.
He and other house Democrats
face a different landscape after
Republicans yesterday clinched a
majority of races in the midterm
elections and will take over in
January.
Republicans like incoming house
oversight chair Dames comber
today previewing new
investigations.
>> We want to know what they
Biden trying to hide.
Reporter: As a head home from a
historic week, both parties are
reconfiguring fast with a new
can -- with a new congress set
to begin in six weeks.
Host: Lisa joins me now.
A big day on capitol hill.
What is the mood?
Reporter: Emotional, historic
and still divided.
There was a lot of emotions from
house Democrats and a sense of
relief.
This question has been hovering
over them for years,
generational change.
There was also divide when you
look at the house chamber.
Few Republicans were there and
none of them were clapping even
giving giveaway lines like
praising the beauty of the
capital.
Those clapping were Democrats.
Host: Tell us what does this all
mean for democratic leadership.
Reporter: Quite a lot.
Look at -- let's look at the
democratic leadership currently.
The top three leaders.
Nancy Pelosi and majority leader
Steny Hoyer and majority whip,
Clyburn.
These three leaders, let's talk
about when they entered
congress.
Two of them elected in the
1980's during the Reagan era
and Clyburn as president Clinton
was coming into office.
Let's look at who is poised to
succeed them.
This is giving two generations.
Jeffries in the middle,
Katherine Clark to be the number
two and Peter Aguilar to be the
number three in the democratic
caucus.
It should be noted that this was
a difficult choice especially
for Steny Hoyer who has wanted
to be speaker for such a long
time.
He is stepping down but like
Pelosi remaining in the house.
Clyburn is remaining in
leadership but at a lower
position.
You will have those three senior
members of the democratic caucus
still in congress but they will
be advising the leaders who are
untested.
Better for them to be in the
minority untested.
I also want to say it is
important for the Democrats that
Hoyer and Lucy have a lot of
tension between them and for
Democrats I spoke to today they
say they feel this team is more
united and it will be easier to
get through.
How easy is it for a speaker to
stay in the house?
Dennis Houston are into thousand
seven did this for 11 months and
then -- Dennis Hastert did this
in 2007 for 11 months.
Host: The context for all of
this is Republicans are now
preparing to take control.
What are they planning to do?
Reporter: Let's talk about the
margin they will have to work
with.
Let's look at that graphic.
218 Republicans.
And a tiny amount of six races
left to be called.
In the end I think we are
heading to a majority of four or
five seats for house
Republicans.
Nancy Pelosi worked with that
same kind of margin.
One difference is Kevin Mccarthy
has said he will not allow proxy
voting.
Nancy Pelosi was able to allow
numbers to vote from their homes
if they were sick or had some
other obligation.
They did not have to be in town.
Kevin Mccarthy says they have to
be at their desks.
The other thing is the house has
the freedom caucus which has
formed and lived with 30 or so
members which uses that leverage
specifically to pressure their
leaders.
That is a different dynamic than
what Pelosi faced.
Let's talk about the agenda.
What we know so far about what
the Republicans are talking
about -- investigations.
I talked to the oversight
chairman coming in, James comber
and he says they will take their
time building a case.
Do not expect hearings right
away.
They are talking about trying to
roll back some of the Biden
agenda.
We will see some of those bills
passed like the irs agents
adding the enforcement layer
that passed through this
congress.
That is something we will see
house Republicans tried to roll
back.
We are waiting for more
specifics on their proactive
agenda but we hear phrases like
parental rights and education.
The things they talked about on
the campaign trail.
Budgeting, the economy.
How will they handle things like
the debt ceiling.
Host: A big day on capitol hill.
Many more big days.
Reporter: How lucky I am to
cover history like this.
Host: How lucky we are to have
you.
Thank you.