Washington (AP) — Republican Mike Johnson was reelected to the House speakership on the first ballot Friday, defeating GOP hard-right holdouts and encouraged by President-elect Donald Trump’s endorsement.
On the first day of the new Congress, a group of hardline Republicans gathered in the rear of the House chamber during a tense roll call, each failing to vote or choosing another lawmaker. The deadlock prompted more turbulence, indicating difficulty ahead under full GOP rule of Washington.
In the end, Johnson was able to persuade two remaining holdouts to support him, garnering acclaim from Republicans.
As the most recent speaker, Johnson’s tenuous grip on the gavel jeopardizes not just his personal survival, but also President-elect Trump’s ambitious goal of tax cuts and mass deportations as Republicans surge to power.
Newly elected House members began voting as Johnson’s name was proposed for nomination by GOP Conference Chair Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich.
“No speaker’s perfect,” she replied. However, the idea is to make progress toward shared national priorities, she explained. “None of us will get exactly what we want.”
Democrats presented their own leader, New York’s Hakeem Jeffries, as the only one with a track record of compromise and achievement in the face of “chaos and dysfunction” under the Republican majority.
“House Democrats are united behind the most powerful legislative leader in this chamber,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., of Jeffries, noting how often their votes bailed out Johnson to assure passage of critical legislation.
Despite opposition from his own Republican colleagues, Johnson came with outward confidence after working through the night to persuade hardcore holdouts. Johnson’s failure might disrupt Monday’s legislative certification of Trump’s 2024 election triumph, since the House lacks a speaker. Even Trump’s endorsement, which is normally a sure bet for Republicans, was no assurance Johnson would remain in power.
“We do not have time for drama,” Johnson remarked as he entered the Capitol.
Trump reiterated his support for the Louisiana Republican. “A victory for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party,” Trump said on social media.
What was once a ceremonial day with freshly elected politicians arriving to be sworn in, typically accompanied by family, friends, and children, has transformed into a high-stakes vote for House Speaker, one of Washington’s most powerful elected offices. Vice President Kamala Harris was swearing in the senators.
While the Senate can convene on its own and has already elected party leaders — Sen. John Thune as Republican majority leader and Sen. Chuck Schumer as Democratic minority leader — the House must first elect a speaker, a position required by the Constitution and second in line of succession to the president.
Congress has been here before, when Republicans needed over a week and 15 rounds of voting to elect Kevin McCarthy as speaker in 2023, a spectacle unprecedented in modern times. McCarthy was then dumped by his party, a historic first, but he was also one of many GOP speakers forced to leave early.
The stakes are higher this year as Trump prepares to return to the White House with the House and Senate under Republican control, promising to deliver big on a 100-day program.
Johnson has worked hard to avoid defeat, spending New Year’s Day at Mar-a-Lago to place himself beside Trump. The speaker frequently describes himself as the “quarterback” who will carry out the political plays instructed by the “coach,” the president-elect.
However, Johnson warned that without a House speaker, there would be a “constitutional crisis” leading up to January 6, when Congress is obligated by law to calculate the electoral votes for president, weeks before Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
“We do not have any time to waste, and I think that everybody recognizes that,” he told me.
Johnson has one of the narrowest majorities in modern history, having lost seats in the November election. With the unexpected departure of Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, the score fell to 219-215. That leaves Johnson depending on practically every Republican for support in the face of Democratic opposition, however the customary 218 majority of 435 members required may fluctuate due to absences and some voting simply “present.”
He lacked the necessary support prior to Friday.
Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy, an outspoken member of the Freedom Caucus, was among the most conspicuous holdouts, criticizing Republican leadership’s handling of the year-end funding package for failing to slash spending and follow House rules.
“Something must change,” Roy wrote on social media. He ultimately voted for Johnson.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., voted for a different GOP Leader, as did other far-right Republicans, including those who helped bring McCarthy down.
It is unclear what more concessions Johnson can make to gain support. McCarthy gave out prime favors two years ago, which appeared to only weaken his grip on power.
Johnson has already reversed one of those moves, enacting a new House rule championed by centrist conservatives that would require at least nine members of the ruling party to vote on any attempt to remove the speaker, up from one under McCarthy.
“I think the holdouts are going to have to realize that, listen, Trump is right all the time,” said Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, as he left the speaker’s office late Thursday night. “Just know that Trump is right all the time, it will help you make a decision real simple.”
In many ways, Johnson has no choice but to face political hazing from his colleagues, who remind him who has the upper hand in their unequal relationship. He was a last-ditch candidate for the position, rising from the back bench after previous leaders failed following McCarthy’s removal.
Democrats under Jeffries are not likely to help preserve Johnson, as they have done in the past when he was under threat of expulsion.
The speaker’s election is expected to dominate the start of the new Congress, which also includes a roster of history-making lawmakers, as the Senate prepares to begin hearings on Trump’s candidates for senior Cabinet and administrative positions.
In the Senate, two Black women, Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, were sworn in, both dressed in suffragettes’ white coats, marking the first time in the nation’s history that two Black women senators will serve concurrently.
Sen.-elect Andy Kim of New Jersey is also making history by becoming the first Korean American to join the chamber.
Sarah McBride is the first openly transgender Congresswoman.
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who recently had a fall overseas and had hip replacement surgery, will also travel to Washington, a reminder of the authority she wielded when Democrats held the majority.