Washington » Standing beside his son, Utah's newest House member, Jason Chaffetz, took the oath of office Tuesday, ending a journey from long-shot candidate to congressman.
Chaffetz, 41, made his first vote - "present" - and then followed up with a vote for minority Leader John Boehner, a Republican, for House speaker, though as expected, California Democrat Nancy Pelosi won handily.
Chaffetz, who snuck his 15-year-old son, Max, onto the House floor to watch, said the moment was "a bit overwhelming," and admitted to shedding a few tears.
"It was an amazing life moment," he said after leaving the floor, noting that he felt the "gravity" of the situation.
Rep. Jim Matheson, a Democrat, also took the oath, beginning his fifth term in the House, and GOP Rep. Rob Bishop started his fourth term.
Chaffetz, who spent the morning hob-nobbing with other members, including several minutes with liberal Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, joked that he was excited to make his first "no" vote as Congress took up action on its new rules.
Chaffetz's two daughters, Ellis, 12, and Kate, 7, also joined their dad on the floor for part of Tuesday's ceremonial swearing in.
