The House voted Friday to reelect Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., after multiple Republicans initially did not cast a vote for him in what became a tight contest spurred by pushback from a small, but influential group of Republicans against the speaker.
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The House voted 218-215 to reelect Johnson as the speaker of the House, with one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., voting against him.
All Democrats backed Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
President-elect Donald Trump endorsed Johnson early in the week, saying “he’s the one that can win right now.”
The 119th Congress started Friday at noon, though a vote for Johnson’s reelection or a new speaker had to be completed before members of the new Congress could be sworn into office. The election of a House speaker had largely been seen as a rubber stamp action in modern times, though former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., needed 15 rounds of voting held over multiple days to win his speakership in 2023, prior to his historic ousting later that year, ushering in Johnson’s speakership. In addition to Trump’s endorsement, Johnson captured another endorsement from Tesla chief and Trump ally Elon Musk.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.