WHAT??? You cannot be serious.
He dominated his house seat election and EASILY re won his speakership. “Nearly lost” what? Thats like saying Reagan nearly lost to Carter in a landslide. AKA “Things distant from reality”.
He needed 218 votes to be re-elected House leader. He got something like 220 votes. Had it been 217 votes, then he would not have been re-elected Speaker.
Sorry, those are the HOUSE RULES.