Washington ? Cast into the minority by an angry electorate, House Republicans chose Rep. John Boehner, of Ohio, on Friday to lead a return to power as quickly as possible. “We’re going to earn our way back into the majority,” he vowed.

To do that, he said, “we need to fight for a smaller, less costly and more accountable federal government.”

Boehner, 56, defeated Rep. Mike Pence, of Indiana, for minority leader on a secret ballot vote of 168-27, a margin that demonstrated fellow lawmakers do not hold him responsible for the election losses the party suffered on Nov. 7. The Ohio Republican has been serving as majority leader, the second-in-command in the leadership, since February.

Another leadership veteran, Roy Blunt, of Missouri, won a new term as party whip, defeating Arizona Rep. John Shadegg on a vote of 137-57. “You know, it’s not our job to defend business as usual, not our job to try to define the federal government in the biggest possible way,” Blunt said.

As Republican leader, Boehner’s job, at least in part, will be to oppose legislation advanced by Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker-in-waiting, and help develop alternatives designed to appeal to the electorate in 2008.

“I think what the American people care about are: who’s going to hold down spending in Washington, who’s going to cut their taxes, who’s going to make sure that America is strong and can defend itself and make sure that it’s safe and secure for American families,” he said at the news conference.

Incoming House Minority Leader John Boehner, of Ohio, talks to reporters Friday on Capitol Hill after being elected House Republican leader for the upcoming 110th Congress.

At the same time, Boehner will have to keep in mind the wishes of the White House, where President Bush will be in his final two years, and a need to work more cooperatively with Democrats if Republicans are to succeed in passing legislation.

Boehner’s ascension as the top party leader followed a decision by Speaker Dennis Hastert not to seek the post in the wake of the party’s losses. Hastert, of Illinois, is the longest-serving Republican speaker in history, a position that is filled by a member of the majority party. He announced last week he would remain in Congress.

Also notable was that while eight Republicans – the entire leadership – spoke at a news conference, none mentioned Bush in prepared remarks. The president has come in for criticism from many lawmakers in the days since Nov. 7, and some have said privately he probably cost the GOP some seats by waiting until after the election to jettison Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.