ProgressOhio

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) won re-election to his post this morning, easily defeating a last-minute challenge by Rep Dan Lungren (R-Calif).

"To rebuild the party, the energy has to come from us. And I will challenge all of you," Boehner said in a speech to colleagues, according to transcripts provided by his office.

Boehner was elected majority leader in early 2006, replacing outgoing Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), and then won the race for minority leader two years ago, after his party was thrown out of power for the first time since 1994.

He has helped oversee a pair of brutal election cycles for Republicans, who've lost 53 House seats combined in 2006 and 2008 and through special elections this year.