From the San Francisco Chronicle: 

The last time a Democrat held the House speaker’s gavel was in January 1995, when then-party leader Dick Gephardt handed it to Newt Gingrich after an election that Republicans branded a revolution.

The gavel will now be handed back to Democrat Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, who will become the first woman and first Californian to serve as speaker, following a coast-to-coast repudiation of Republican leadership.

"We are on the brink of a great Democratic victory," predicted Pelosi, as Democrats solidified their new hold on the House of Representatives, adding to their margin of seats after sweeping Republicans from that chamber and gaining seats in the Senate.