Cheers, jokes and standing ovations marked Assemblywoman Karen Bass' ascension to speaker-elect of the lower house Thursday, but once the smiles died, speculation ran rampant.
The first African American woman to be named leader of a California legislative house, Bass savored the moment while others pondered whether she will differ in style or substance from outgoing Speaker Fabian Núñez.
Bass, 54, has served the past two years as the top lieutenant for Núñez, a fellow Los Angeles resident and liberal Democrat who rallied support behind the scenes Wednesday in the final frenzied hours that secured her new post.
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