Rep. Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven, has been nominated by House Democrats to be the next Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.

Since Democrats hold a 96-54 majority in the House, it is all but assured that Pingree will be elected Speaker when the new Legislature convenes on Dec. 3.

In a speech following her nomination, the 32-year-old talked about living on the island of North Haven and made reference to Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin of Alaska.

"Unlike Sarah Palin, I can't field dress a moose, but I can navigate a boat home in the fog and negotiate with an unhappy lobster fisherman," she said.

Pingree is the daughter of Chellie Pingree, who was elected last week to the U.S. House of Representatives.