Despite challenge, House Democrats re-elect Pelosi as minority leader

Democrats in the House of Representatives have chosen Rep. Nancy Pelosi once again to lead their delegation.

Pelosi, a California Democrat, survived a challenge from Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan by a vote of 134 to 63.

Democrats met Wednesday in a closed meeting before casting their votes by secret ballot.

The House minority caucus has been in a tailspin since President-elect Donald Trump's victory, and their ranks have diminished to a level not seen since 1929.

On Tuesday, Ryan explained his challenge, according to USA Today:

“We’ve really got to ask ourselves: What are we going to tell the American people? That what happened on [Election Day] and what we’ve not been able to do since 2010 is OK; We’re going to keep going down the same path,” he told CNN. “Or will we have a new messenger, a new message, a new brand and a new Democratic Party?”

Still, Democrats chose to retain Pelosi.