Republican Mike Johnson was reelected House speaker on Friday, narrowly successful a showdown together with his get together’s right-flank after a last-minute help from President-elect Donald Trump.
Johnson was handed the gavel after a dramatic vote that noticed the Louisiana native on observe to lose on the primary poll minutes earlier than two Republican lawmakers approached the desk and altered their stance following what one referred to as a “energetic dialogue” with Trump.
Talking after the victory, Johnson pledged to implement Trump’s “American First” agenda.
“The American folks have referred to as on us to reject enterprise as ordinary and throw out the established order,” he stated. “We should and we are going to heed their name.”
Rep. Mike Johnson is sworn in as Speaker of the Home after being re-elected, on the primary day of the 119th Congress on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 3, 2025.
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Johnson entered the U.S. Capitol on Friday morning going through greater than a dozen undecided Republican members. He had spent the day earlier than meeting with the possible detractors in his workplace, and expressed confidence he would achieve success however disregarded the broader implications if he had been to lose on the primary strive.
Moments earlier than the roll name vote started, Johnson publicly launched new commitments on spending and monetary accountability seemingly aimed toward satisfying a few of his skeptical colleagues, lots of whom had been angered over his dealing with of the federal government funding battle earlier than Christmas.
Rep. Victoria Spartz and Rep. Chip Roy confer through the first session of the 119th Congress, forward of the vote for Speaker of the Home within the Home Chamber on the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 3, 2025.
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The transfer appeared to bode properly for Johnson because the vote kicked off and a number of other beforehand undecided Republicans solid their vote for him.
However bother started when some Home Freedom Caucus members withheld their votes at first, not answering when their title was referred to as.
Then got here three Republican defections, successfully taking away Johnson’s slender path to victory.
Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise tallies the votes through the Speaker election on the Home ground of the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 3, 2025.
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Rep. Thomas Massie casts his vote for Rep. Tom Emmer because the Home votes on a Speaker of the Home on the primary day of the 119th Congress within the Home Chamber of the Capitol, Jan. 03, 2025, in Washington.
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First, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky voted for Home Majority Whip Tom Emmer. Then Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina voted for Home Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Rep. Keith Self of Texas voted for Florida Rep. Byron Donalds.
The vote remained open for roughly two tension-filled hours.
Johnson was seen huddling on the ground with varied members of GOP management throughout that point. He then exited the chamber, returning to hunt out Norman and Self.
Johnson, Norman and Self huddled within the cloakroom simply off the Home ground.
They had been joined by another Republicans, together with Reps. Andy Harris, Andrew Clyde, Andy Ogles, Andy Biggs and Virginia Foxx.
Rep. Mike Johnson confers with representatives through the first vote for the brand new Speaker of the Home on the primary day of the 119th Congress on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 3, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Rep Mike Johnson walks in entrance of Rep. Ralph Norman as representatives collect to vote for the brand new Speaker of the Home on the primary day of the 119th Congress on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 3, 2025.
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President-elect Trump waded into the combination, working the telephones and talking to Norman and Self throughout that huddle simply off the Home ground, ABC News reported.
Self later confirmed the decision to reporters. When requested if Trump was offended, Self referred to as it a “energetic dialogue.”
Johnson additionally stated Trump was a “massive issue” in Friday’s consequence, saying he was on the telephone with the president-elect whereas votes had been being counted and he was “humbled” by his assist.
After talking with Trump, Norman and Self walked again into the chamber at 2:30 p.m. and approached the clerks. They each modified their earlier votes to assist Johnson.
That gave Johnson the 218 vital votes to be elected.
“The tellers agree of their tallies that the full variety of votes solid is 434, of which the honorable Mike Johnson of the state of Louisiana has obtained 218,” Home Clerk Kevin McCumber stated as he introduced the vote.
Republican Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson greets lawmakers as he re-enters the Home chamber after successful the votes to take care of his place as Speaker of the Home on the Capitol in Washington, DC, Jan. 3, 2025.
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Republicans within the chamber broke out in a standing ovation.
Johnson was handed the gavel by Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, who spoke for practically 20 minutes earlier than giving the ground to Johnson.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries presents Rep. Mike Johnson the gavel after he was re-elected as Speaker of the Home on the primary day of the 119th Congress on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 3, 2025.
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Representatives of the 119th Congress are sworn in on the Home ground on the primary day of their session within the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 3, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Johnson started his remarks with a second of silence for the victims of the truck-ramming assault in New Orleans on New Yr’s Day earlier than thanking members and laying out his imaginative and prescient for a Republican-controlled Home and Senate within the incoming Trump administration.
“I am grateful for this election, for the arrogance this chamber has positioned in me. It’s the nice honor of my life to serve this physique with all of you,” Johnson stated as he addressed the room earlier than swearing in members of the brand new 119th Congress.
ABC Information’ Katherine Faulders, Jay O’Brien, Lauren Peller, John Parkinson and Arthur Jones contributed to this report.
