Alabama U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell at center of action to select Speaker of the House

Alabama U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell at center of action to select Speaker of the House

A familiar face from Alabama is playing a significant role in the well of the House chamber as lawmakers continue to wrangle over who will be the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, sits at the front desk as a teller counting the votes during the selection process.

Sewell is among four members, two Republicans and two Democrats, who were selected by their party’s leaders to manually tabulate the votes of her colleagues. Sewell was tapped by serve by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York.

Sewell so far has served during two rounds of voting Tuesday and Wednesday as the Republican majority seeks a consensus on who will lead the chamber of 435 members. No candidate has been able to secure the votes to claim the gavel.

Another vote could occur this afternoon following two failed attempts by U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to secure the win.