AUGUSTA – Rep. Glenn Cummings of Portland, who served as the Democratic floor leader in the Maine House of Representatives during the past session, won a key vote Wednesday that virtually assures he will be the House speaker for the next two years.

By a unanimous vote, the newly elected Democratic representatives nominated Cummings as their choice for speaker when the full House selects a leader Dec. 6, the day the Legislature formally convenes for its 2007-08 session.

Because his party has a commanding 89-60 majority over the Republicans in the House, Cummings is assured of taking the speaker’s gavel. The 151-member House also has two independents.

The fourth-term lawmaker congratulated his fellow Democrats for their significant Election Day gains in the House, where they previously held 74 seats, and also thanked Democratic candidates who ran and lost.

“Looking out at 89 Democrats is really a dream come true,” said Cummings.

He also thanked two former candidates for the speaker’s post, Reps. Tom Watson of Bath and Leila Percy of Phippsburg, for throwing their support behind him before Wednesday’s vote. Both Watson and Percy gave speeches encouraging their fellow Democrats to support Cummings for House presiding officer.

After his nomination, the fourth-term Cummings listed some of the last two-year session’s accomplishments, including passage of a gay rights law, a boost in funding for public schools and an easing of business equipment taxes.

“More work is to be done,” said Cummings. As Democratic Gov. John Baldacci has done, Cummings listed property tax reform as a top priority.

Rep. Hannah Pingree, who was elected Wednesday as House majority leader, added to the Democrats’ to-do list such issues as health insurance for those lacking coverage, helping Maine’s sizable aging population and balancing the state budget.

Pingree, a third-term representative from North Haven island, defeated veteran Rep. John Tuttle of Sanford for the floor leader’s spot.

In two rounds of balloting, Rep. Sean Faircloth of Bangor defeated Reps. Herbert Clark of Millinocket and Nancy Smith of Monmouth for the assistant majority leader’s post.

Newly elected lawmakers are in the midst of organizational caucuses in preparation for the new two-year session’s start. Senate Republicans elected their leaders Tuesday, and Senate Democrats and House Republicans elect their leadership teams next week.