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Mike Johnson fails to secure majority votes for House speakership Mike Johnson secures US House speakership after facing internal dissent
(31 minutes later)
Chamber will likely be forced in to a second ballot after three Republicans vote against Johnson in first round Three Republicans voted for someone else, but two later changed their votes while all Democrats backed Jeffries
Republican Mike Johnson failed to secure the House speakership in the first round of voting on Friday, likely forcing the chamber into a second ballot and threatening to reignite the leadership chaos that has plagued House Republicans over the past year. After initially facing internal dissent, Trump-endorsed Republican Mike Johnson secured the House speakership in the first round of voting on Friday.
Johnson couldn’t afford to lose more than one Republican vote, but three voted for someone other than Johnson. Kentucky’s Thomas Massie backed Minnesota’s Tom Emmer, South Carolina’s Ralph Norman backed Ohio’s Jim Jordan and Texas’ Keith Self backed Florida’s Byron Donalds. All Democrats backed House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries. Johnson couldn’t afford to lose more than one Republican vote, and three Republican members of Congress initially voted for someone other than Johnson. But all but Kentucky’s Thomas Massie, who backed Minnesota’s Tom Emmer, later changed their votes to support Johnson and securing him the 218 votes needed to hold the speakership.
While no serious challenger has emerged, Norman indicated earlier this week he and other GOP lawmakers are seeking assurances on several issues, particularly budget cuts, before lending their support to Johnson. All Democrats backed House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries.
As the House’s first order of business – which began around noon Eastern time – members must elect a speaker before they can be sworn in. Each representative must stand to declare their choice in a roll call vote, with Johnson needing a majority of all members voting to secure victory. South Carolina’s Ralph Norman – who initially voted for a third candidate before flipping to Johnson – indicated earlier this week he and other GOP lawmakers are seeking assurances on several issues, particularly budget cuts, before lending their support to Johnson.
As the House’s first order of business – which began around noon Eastern time – members had to elect a speaker before they can be sworn in. Each representative stood to declare their choice in a roll call vote, with Johnson needing a majority of all members voting to secure victory.
Just before the vote, Johnson made a last-minute pitch to his colleagues, outlining specific commitments on fiscal reform and promising to create an independent working group to review government spending. He pledged to investigate what he called “irresponsible or illegal practices” in federal agencies and implement stricter oversight of government expenditures.Just before the vote, Johnson made a last-minute pitch to his colleagues, outlining specific commitments on fiscal reform and promising to create an independent working group to review government spending. He pledged to investigate what he called “irresponsible or illegal practices” in federal agencies and implement stricter oversight of government expenditures.
“Along with advancing President Trump’s America First agenda,” Johnson wrote on X that he would “lead the House Republicans to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, hold the bureaucracy accountable, and move the United States to a more sustainable fiscal trajectory”.“Along with advancing President Trump’s America First agenda,” Johnson wrote on X that he would “lead the House Republicans to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, hold the bureaucracy accountable, and move the United States to a more sustainable fiscal trajectory”.
Johnson faces a close mathematical path to victory. With Republicans holding a slim 219-215 majority, and Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie declaring his opposition before the vote, Johnson can’t afford to lose a single additional vote without risking multiple rounds of voting reminiscent of last session’s speaker election chaos.Johnson faces a close mathematical path to victory. With Republicans holding a slim 219-215 majority, and Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie declaring his opposition before the vote, Johnson can’t afford to lose a single additional vote without risking multiple rounds of voting reminiscent of last session’s speaker election chaos.
Assuming all 434 current House members participate (there is one vacancy), Johnson needs 218 votes to win. With Democrats expected to unite behind their leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, and Massie planning to vote against him, Johnson started with exactly 218 potential votes – the bare minimum needed. Any additional defection denies him a majority. Assuming all 434 current House members participate (there is one vacancy), Johnson needed 218 votes to win.
However, members can vote “present” instead of naming a candidate, which would lower the threshold needed for victory by reducing the total number of votes cast for candidates. Johnson’s team had reportedly been working frantically behind the scenes, conducting last-minute negotiations with various Republican factions to secure their support. That includes heading to Mar-a-Lago to have a sit-down with Trump.
Johnson’s team has reportedly been working frantically behind the scenes, conducting last-minute negotiations with various Republican factions to secure their support. That includes heading to Mar-a-Lago to have a sit-down with Trump.
Much of his support came tumbling down in the last year, after helping Democrats usher in billions of aid to Ukraine in the spring against conservative wishes and caving to billionaire GOP mega-donor Elon Musk for compromises on short-term government spending last month.Much of his support came tumbling down in the last year, after helping Democrats usher in billions of aid to Ukraine in the spring against conservative wishes and caving to billionaire GOP mega-donor Elon Musk for compromises on short-term government spending last month.
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Because of those deals, some Republicans including Spartz are seeking assurances on cuts to government spending to deliver on Trump’s agenda. Because of those deals, some Republicans including Spartz were seeking assurances on cuts to government spending to deliver on Trump’s agenda.
“If Speaker Johnson wants to be speaker, then he needs to lay out a plan and commit to that plan, not like what he did last year,” Spartz said on Fox News earlier this week. “I can give him a chance, but I would like to hear from him how he’s going to be delivering this agenda.”“If Speaker Johnson wants to be speaker, then he needs to lay out a plan and commit to that plan, not like what he did last year,” Spartz said on Fox News earlier this week. “I can give him a chance, but I would like to hear from him how he’s going to be delivering this agenda.”
With Johnson failing to secure a majority on the first ballot, the House enters a state of limbo, unable to conduct any other business until a speaker is elected.
The speaker election in January 2023 required 15 rounds of voting before former speaker Kevin McCarthy was confirmed. Johnson emerged as a compromise candidate in October of that year following McCarthy’s removal from the position, when eight Republicans went rogue to vote alongside Democrats – the first such ouster in American political history.The speaker election in January 2023 required 15 rounds of voting before former speaker Kevin McCarthy was confirmed. Johnson emerged as a compromise candidate in October of that year following McCarthy’s removal from the position, when eight Republicans went rogue to vote alongside Democrats – the first such ouster in American political history.