Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) was re-elected to lead the chamber in a single vote today, Friday, January 3 – but the event wasn’t without its drama. The House held its first vote just after noon, and it initially looked like three GOP holdouts might sink Johnson’s bid. Republicans nominated Johnson, the most recent speaker for the 118th Congress, and Democrats nominated their own minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries of New York. The vote stalled at 216 for Johnson (two shy of what he needed) and 215 for Jeffries.
Three GOP defectors – Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, and Keith Self of Texas – had initially opposed Johnson’s bid, but the temporary speaker didn’t gavel out the vote for more than an hour, leaving them time to change their minds. As Johnson huddled with the holdouts, that’s exactly what happened. Mr. Norman and Mr. Self changed their votes to Johnson, giving the former speaker the 218 votes required to take the gavel once again.
