The fractured Republican party elected a House speaker who opposes providing more funding for Ukraine and same-sex marriage.

Mike Johnson, the party’s fourth nominee for the top job, managed to secure 220 votes, winning enough support to take the gavel.

Mr Johnson, 51, is a staunch ally of Donald Trump and served on his impeachment defence team. He is also an election denier and spearheaded legal efforts to overturn the 2020 vote.

Mr Johnson is the least experienced speaker in the post-Civil War era, having never chaired a committee or held a senior leadership role. He is now second in line to the presidency after Kamala Harris.

“We are ready to get to work again,” he said after taking the gavel.

To the American people watching he declared: “Our mission here is to serve you well and to restore the people’s faith in this House.”

“Democracy is messy sometimes, but it is our system,” Mr Johnson said after winning the nomination. “We’re going to restore your trust in what we do here.”

Lawmakers appeared to know little about the Louisiana congressman. When asked what it would be like to work with the new speaker, Susan Collins, senator for Maine, said she would need to Google him to find out.