Trump congratulates Mike Johnson after victory

On January 4, 2025By Littum

Upper line

The House of Representatives voted Friday to re-elect Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., after several Republicans initially did not vote for him in what became a tight contest spurred by pushback from a small but influential group of Republicans against the speaker, leading to President-elect Donald Trump, who interfere in discussions.

(Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Key facts

The House voted 218-215 to re-elect Johnson as Speaker of the House, with one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., voting against him, although eight other Republicans either voted against Johnson or withheld their support in an initial role. call voice.

Johnson looked set to lose on the first ballot after the roll call vote, as he could only afford one Republican to vote against him, while all Democrats supported Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y.

However, the vote was kept open when Johnson retreated to a private area of the chamber to apparently negotiate with the holdouts, who—with the exception of Massie—then changed their votes to support Johnson.

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Which Republicans opposed Johnson?

Massie, who had publicly exposed his opposition to Johnson this week voted against Johnson along with Rep. Ralph Norman, RS.C., and Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, who later switched their votes. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., Rep. . Chip Roy, R-Texas, did not cast a vote on the first ballot when their names were called.

What we don’t know

What factors influenced Norman and Self to change their votes in favor of Johnson, who could be seen negotiating before the vote was called. Trump spoke with Norman and Self before they changed their votes, according to more businessesalthough the details of the conversations between the president-elect and the congressman are unclear. Trump endorsed Johnson earlier this week, saying “he’s the one who can win right now.”

Crucial quote

“Congratulations to Speaker Mike Johnson for receiving an unprecedented vote of confidence in Congress,” Trump said in a Truth Social post after the drawn vote. “The People of America have been waiting four years for common sense, strength and leadership. They are getting it now and America will be greater than ever before!”

Key background

The 119th Congress began at noon on Friday, although a vote for Johnson’s re-election or a new speaker had to be completed before members of the new Congress could be sworn in. The selection of a House speaker had been widely seen as a rubber-stamping in the modern era, although former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., needed 15 rounds of voting held over several days to win his 2023 speaker’s seat historic expulsion later that year, heralding Johnson’s pulpit. In addition to Trump’s endorsement, Johnson captured another approval from Tesla boss and Trump ally Elon Musk.