Oct. 10, 2001 – Delegate Donna Christian Christensen was one of 118 House Democrats to vote for Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), elected Thursday as the new Democratic Whip.
Pelosi is the first woman to reach this level of leadership of the House Democrats. She will become the de facto female deputy floor leader of her party. Although the Democrats are currently the minority in Congress, historically, a number of party Whips have eventually moved up to become Speaker of the House when their party is in power.
Pelosi defeated Rep. Steny Hoyer (D., Md.), who received 95 votes in the secret balloting. She will succeed Congressman David Bonior (D., Mich.), who is leaving the House to run for governor of his state.
Personnel in the office of the Democratric Whip had said earlier this week that the election, initially scheduled for Wednesday, would be held on Thursday instead. But it was, in fact, held on Wednesday morning.