WASHINGTON - US Republican lawmaker John Boehner kept his position as the Speaker of the House of Representatives in an election when the new Congress convened Thursday.

Lawmakers met in the House of Representatives for the first session of the 113th Congress and began a vote for the House leadership.

Although winning the re-election vote with a majority of ballots, Boehner, the Representative from the US state of Ohio faced more defectors within the Republican party. Some have voiced disapproval or been on fence for Boehner's speakership bid. That marked a sharp difference from two years ago, when Republicans unanimously voted to hand him the House Speaker's gavel.