The New Leaders of the House

After months of campaigning, fundraising, polling, speculating, and (yes) bickering, Republicans, on Nov. 2, pulled out a widely-anticipated takeover of the House of Representatives. CBSNews.com presents a list of the top representatives heading into congressional leadership positions.

House Election Results
Complete Coverage: Campaign 2010

JOHN BOEHNER

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite — Alex Wong/Getty Images

This consummate Washington insider might not have been the happiest choice for Tea Party-leaning Republicans, but Ohio's John Boehner faced no competition before being tapped as the next speaker of the House.
And while few Republicans dared to publicly cross him, one or two made it clear he wasn't every GOP lawmaker's first choice: Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann said at one point that she would only guarantee a vote for Boehner if he was "the only candidate running."

House Election Results
Complete Results: Campaign 2010

ERIC CANTOR

Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor easily won his bid to become House Majority Leader, the second-most powerful position in play. Cantor, who previously served as the Minority Whip, has said in the past that as Majority Leader, he would make priorities of keeping the Obama administration in check, defunding agencies that implement health care reform, and enforcing a "zero tolerance" ethics policy. Now, it looks like he'll have his chance.

House Election Results
Complete Coverage: Campaign 2010

KEVIN MCCARTHY

Kevin McCarthy, a rep. for California's 22nd district, the GOP's chief deputy whip and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) chairman for recruitment, was named House Majority Whip, the third most powerful Republican leadership position in the House. McCarthy also helped build the Republicans' "Young Gun" program, along with incoming Majority Leader Eric Cantor.

House Election Results
Complete Coverage: Campaign 2010

PAUL RYAN

Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan - a prominent Republican and one of the main figures behind the "Young Guns" program" - previously served as the ranking member of the House Budget Committee. Earlier this year, he came out with a controversial "Roadmap" for budget reform. Now, having been officially named chairman of the Committee, he could end up as the key player in what Politico has referred to as "the most consequential budget debate since the government shutdown of 1995."

House Election Results
Complete Coverage: Campaign 2010

DARRELL ISSA

California Rep. Darrell Issa, the ranking Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, swiftly assumed chairmanship of the committee - and he's made it clear that he won't be shy about investigating the Obama administration. (Or, for that matter, the George W. Bush administration.) So far, he's targeted stimulus spending, financial bailouts, and health care reform.

But Issa denies charges that his goal is to bring down President Obama. "My job is not to bring down the president. My job is to make the president a success," he said on November 2, according to Politico.

JEB HENSARLING

Jeb Hensarling, of Texas's 5th district, made it known early on that if Indiana Republican Mike Pence stepped down as Republican Conference Chair, he'd put his name in the running for the job. And despite a few challengers for the position, the conservative favorite and ally of Cantor handily beat out the competition for the job.

House Election Results
Complete Coverage: Campaign 2010

PETE SESSIONS

Pete Sessions, of Texas, was originally said to be in the running for Majority Whip - but ultimately, he was tapped to serve another term as leader of the National Republican Congressional Committee instead.

House Election Results
Complete Coverage: Campaign 2010

CATHY MCMORRIS-RODGERS

Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, the only woman in the GOP leadership, was another potential contender for conference chair -- but while the Hill reported that she was "considering" throwing her hat into the ring, the Congresswoman ultimately went for -- and won -- the conference's vice chairmanship.

House Election Results
Complete Coverage: Campaign 2010

HAROLD ROGERS

After a tight contest for chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee, Kentucky's Harold Rogers bested Georgia's Jack Kingston and California Rep. Jerry Lewis, the ranking member on the committee, for the job.

House Election Results
Complete Coverage: Campaign 2010

SPENCER BACHUS

Spencer Bachus, Alabama Representative who served as the ranking member on the Financial Services Committee, won his bid for the committee chairmanship. He's already indicated his intent to weaken several provisions in this 2010's Dodd-Frank financial reform law, including the Volcker rule and the resolution authority for dismantling failed banks. On November 3, he told the Wall Street Journal he also planned to rewrite the derivatives provision of that same law.

MIKE PENCE

Indiana's Mike Pence, a rising Republican star and the party's former Conference chairman, could have been in a prime position to serve as House Majority Whip. But he took himself out of contention for the post shortly after the November elections, and is said to be considering a gubernatorial - or even presidential - bid. He will remain a closely-watched Republican leader despite opting out of a leadership position.

House Election Results
Complete Coverage: Campaign 2010

MICHELE BACHMANN

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann initially showed interest in the conference chairmanship. Were she to have won, Bachmann would not only have become the first woman in the ranks of the top GOP leadership - she'd also have brought to it a Tea Party element. Ultimately, however, Bachmannn withdrew from the race and voiced her support for Hensarling. She currently appears to be considering other leadership options - such as a possible 2012 presidential bid.

JASON CHAFFETZ

Utah's Jason Chaffetz was among the names being tossed around to fill Pence's shoes. "My name is being thrown around and it's very flattering," Chaffetz said, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. In the end, however, Chaffetz threw his support to Hensarling.

House Election Results
Complete Coverage: Campaign 2010

JOE BARTON

Early on, Joe Barton angled for chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where he had been the ranking Republican. But some thought the GOP leadership didn't want him to get the job - and ultimately, he didn't: Michigan's Fred Upton won out instead.

House Election Results
Complete Coverage: Campaign 2010