Both leaders recast themselves in their campaigns and argued they would be agents for change in the 110th Congress, committing to return the Republican Party to its roots of fiscal conservatism and reform and to battle the new Democratic majority tooth and nail.

“We are going to work as a team and we are going to earn our way back into our majority,” Boehner told reporters after his victory, stressing the need “to fight for a smaller, less costly and more accountable federal government.” Boehner defeated Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.), chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, in a landslide 168-27 vote. One

vote was cast for Energy and Commerce Chairman Joe Barton (Texas), who withdrew from the race Wednesday.

Similarly Blunt was candid about the need to shakeup the party agenda. “Frankly, [we need] to get rid of the bad habits that we may have developed in the 12 years in the majority,” he said. “It’s not our job to defend business as usual, it’s not our job to try to define the federal government in the biggest possible way, we need to do the right things. Our Conference is ready to do that.” Blunt soundly defeated Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) 137-57, with one Member abstaining.

Speculation brewed all last week that some combination of Members would attempt to nominate Chief Deputy Majority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) for the Whip job, or write in his name on the ballot, but there was no mischief during Friday’s leadership elections. The Conference also ruled the day before elections that write-in ballots would not be tallied in final vote counts. Blunt will maintain Cantor as his Chief Deputy Whip.

While the top elected leaders invoked the 1994 spirit that swept in a Republican House majority that year, Friday’s elections were a significant defeat for prominent conservatives Pence and Shadegg. Pence has been a darling of the outside conservative establishment — much of which endorsed his leadership candidacy — and Shadegg is also a former RSC chairman and a member of the 1994 class.

Rep. Jeff Flake (Ariz.) contended that his colleagues did not heed the call from voters on Election Day for reform within the party. “We haven’t hit the first stage, we’re still in denial,” Flake, a Pence ally, told reporters. “When you’re here you kind of drink your own bath water,” he said, a reference to a supposed inside-the-Beltway mentality.

Flake’s comments were seen as particularly critical of Blunt, who is the longest serving member of the current leadership team. Flake said it might be “doubly difficult” to convince voters the party got the message to change the way it does business.

There were few surprises in any of the downballot leadership races, with the exception of the four-way race for Republican Conference chairman. GOP Reps. Adam Putnam (Fla.) and Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.) were widely seen as the frontrunners against Reps. Dan Lungren (Calif.) and Jack Kingston (Ga.).

However, Blackburn secured an unimpressive 31 votes on the first ballot, with 29 votes for Lungren. Blackburn received 30 votes on the second ballot and was removed per Conference rules, leading to a showdown between Putnam and Kingston. Putnam bested Kingston, the current Conference vice chairman, in an unexpectedly close 100-91 vote. “I have no regrets, it was a good campaign,” Kingston told supporters in an e-mail following his defeat.

Blackburn spent the better part of the year laying the groundwork for her campaign, including frequent radio and TV appearances. One Member contended that Blackburn’s eagerness could have also led to her demise. “Marsha worked really hard, but there was just this perception that Marsha was in it for Marsha, and not for the team,” said one Republican who asked not to be named.

“I will continue doing my best to support our leadership and support our Party’s principles,” Blackburn said in a statement following her defeat.

Texas is back at the leadership table as well, with the election of Texas GOP Reps. Kay Granger and John Carter to Conference vice chairwoman and Conference secretary, respectively. Granger beat Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) 124-63 and is the only woman on the leadership team. Carter was unopposed and was approved by voice vote.

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (Mich.) soundly defeated Rep. Darrell Issa (Calif.), 132-63, for Republican Policy Committee chairman.

The first test of the new leadership team will be in the coming weeks as it transitions into the minority. The internal Conference rules and the makeup of the GOP Steering Committee, which determines committee ranking members and rank-and-file assignments, will have to be reconfigured as they are largely written for majority status.

For instance, the current 28-member Steering Committee provides for a weighted voting system, with five votes granted to the Speaker, two to the Majority Leader and one for the remaining 26 members.

Minus a Speaker, it remains to be seen how many votes the Minority Leader and Minority Whip will be granted. Regional representation on the Steering Committee may also be shifted to account for the geographic loss of Members.

Republicans also will have to clarify an internal Conference rule regarding how many years a Member can serve as chairman or ranking member of a committee to try to fend off potential turf wars.

Currently, chairmen are term-limited to six years, but some Members have made the argument that the rule is unclear and should allow for six years as chairman, and six years as ranking member.

Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young (Alaska) and Judiciary Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (Wis.) are term-limited, but both are expected to try to claim rights to the ranking memberships on their committees due to their interpretation of the rule.

Additionally, GOP leadership sources have suggested that Appropriations Chairman Jerry Lewis (Calif.), who is under federal investigation, may not be able to hold on to the ranking member slot when it comes before Steering. When asked Friday if he expected to serve as the ranking member in the 110th Congress, Lewis deferred. “That is a pay grade that’s different than mine,” he said.

Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La.) is expected to get the ranking slot on the House Ways and Means Committee. McCrery is a close Boehner ally and gave a nominating speech for Boehner during elections last Friday.

As leader, Boehner will have sole decision-making power over who will head up a handful of committees, including Rules, House Administration, Intelligence and ethics.

According to knowledgeable GOP sources, Rules Chairman David Dreier (Calif.) is expected to remain as ranking member as the exclusive committee is not subject to term limits.

Similarly, Intelligence Chairman Pete Hoekstra (Mich.), a public Boehner supporter, is also expected to remain. Ethics Chairman Doc Hastings (Wash.), who currently is investigating the scandal surrounding former Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) and his interaction with underage male House pages, is expected to remain on the panel if asked.

Also Friday, the incoming Republican freshman Members held class elections. Rep.-elect Bill Sali (Idaho) is class president, Rep.-elect Doug Lamborn (Colo.) will serve as the representative to leadership, Rep.-elect Adrian Smith (Neb.) will serve as representative to the Policy Committee, and Rep.-elect Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) will serve as the freshman representative on the Steering Committee.

John Bresnahan contributed to this report.