BOSTON -- In spite of swirling allegations of ethical misconduct, the House Democratic caucus backed state Rep. Salvatore DiMasi to be re-elected as speaker of the House moments ago on the first day of the 186th session of the General Court.

The caucus met in the State House's Gardner auditorium at 10:30 A.M. After being nominated and seconded, DiMasi made brief remarks, but did not address the ethics investigations he now faces. He did, however, touch upon the difficulties of being speaker.

"When I first became speaker," he said. "I used to think, ‘Boy this is a lonely job, it's a tough job.' And I've heard from other speakers that you will not know what it's like until you sit in that chair...You can't satisfy everyone."

"Thank you for supporting me and thank you for being my friend," DiMasi also said, before he received the vote and a standing ovation.

State Rep. James Fagan (D-Taunton) was the first to nominate DiMasi.

"We need someone who will share ideas, accept the views of others," Fagan said, "and move the party forward....We all know that standing here in this room, the pressures that can be brought to bear on any individual here, fair or unfair. It's part of the job, and we need someone who can stand up, accept those pressures and continue to lead."

DiMasi is currently facing multiple investigations over his relationship to Richard Vitale, his friend, and Vitale's lobbying work to secure a state contract for a software company. Vitale was also recently indicted for allegedly violating lobbying rules in his work to help secure passage of ticket brokering legislation. That indictment includes improper contacts between Vitale and DiMasi, though DiMasi has not been charged with any wrong doing.

This story was updated to reflect the correct vote tally.