1. House Democrats began to choose their leaders and rules for the next Congress, which begins in January.

Representative Nancy Pelosi, above, easily won the Democratic nomination to be speaker of the House — but 32 Democrats voted no. She will need to win over some of those defectors for the final floor vote on Jan. 3, and that could be enough time for a serious challenger to emerge.

Ms. Pelosi, 78, who has led House Democrats for more than 15 years, was optimistic. “We go forward with confidence and humility,” she said after the vote.