The new US Congress convened Thursday with Democrats controlling the House of Representatives, marking a dramatic power shift on Capitol Hill less than two years before President Donald Trump's 2020 re-election bid.
The opening ushered in a new era of divided government in Washington, with Democrats intent on checking the Republican's turbulent presidency nearly two years into his term.
The clerk of the House rapped the gavel to signal the chamber was into session, with 235 Democrats and 199 Republicans reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and being sworn in, ahead of a vote to elect Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the House.
One seat in the 435-member House remains in dispute two months after the election.
Several beaming new lawmakers were seen hugging and shaking hands with veteran members and each other.
Vice President Mike Pence swore in the new members of the US Senate, where 53 Republicans hold the majority over 45 Democrats and two independents who align with Democrats.
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Pelosi was poised to take over as speaker for the second time in her career, a remarkable revival for a battle-tested politician who is so far the only woman to head the House.
Her first task will be to help end a partial federal government shutdown over Trump's insistence that lawmakers fund a US-Mexico border wall.
In excerpts of the speech she delivers to the House later Thursday, Pelosi vowed the new Congress would be "bipartisan and unifying" and "will debate and advance good ideas no matter where they come from."
"The Democrats know they can't win based on all of the achievements of 'Trump,' so they are going all out on the desperately needed Wall and Border Security - and Presidential Harassment. For them, strictly politics!"