WASHINGTON ― Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) is hoping for a smooth reelection to his house speaker post when the new Congress kicks off on Friday.
He’s got President-elect Donald Trump’s support, which is the biggest endorsement he could get, and there aren’t any other Republicans publicly vying for his job.
But there could be some real drama.
The House is about to have the most narrowly divided majority in nearly a century, with Republicans holding 219 seats and Democrats holding 215. Assuming all Democrats vote for their own party leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), to be speaker, that means Johnson can lose only one GOP vote and still become speaker. Rep. Thomas Massie (K-Ky) has already said he’s a “no vote,” and Rep. Chip Roy (Texas) has publicly waffled.
There could be other House Republicans quietly holding out on Johnson, too. And fresh on everyone’s mind is how badly the GOP bungled its last speaker elections: They put then-Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) through 14 failed votes and days of public humiliation before giving him the post in January 2023. Ten months later, they ejected him and left the chamber without a speaker ― and unable to conduct business ― for weeks until finally settling on Johnson. McCarthy resigned from Congress two months later.
Read the latest updates on the House speaker election below:
Three Republicans have voted against Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) for House speaker, likely enough to doom his candidacy unless something unexpected happens before the votes are tallied, such as several members changing their votes.
Five Republicans who have criticized Johnson declined to vote when it was their turn. The clerk will call their names again at the end.
