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WASHINGTON — The 119th Congress has officially commenced, and House Speaker Mike Johnson has been reelected to his position by a slender margin. The Republican from Louisiana received backing from President-elect Donald Trump, leading House Republicans to choose him on Friday, with only one dissenting vote.
Representatives Keith Self from Texas, Thomas Massie from Kentucky, and Ralph Norman from South Carolina initially opposed Johnson. However, after private discussions with Johnson, Self and Norman altered their votes in his favor. At times, far-right Republicans have expressed dissatisfaction with Johnson’s leadership, often seeking concessions that might sway their support.
In a move to consolidate support, Trump reached out to the three dissenting members. Norman shared that Trump’s message was straightforward: “Mike’s the only one who can be elected.” Following Trump’s communications, the three Republicans adjusted their stances. Norman remarked that Johnson’s commitment to advocate for their shared values was crucial in reshaping his opinion.
Johnson’s formal swearing-in was conducted by Kentucky Rep. Hal Rogers, the House’s longest-tenured member. The House chamber buzzed with applause as the new lawmakers were duly installed as part of Congress.
For the moment, conservative factions in the House are standing firmly behind Johnson but have indicated that their allegiance will depend on bold policy initiatives. The House Freedom Caucus unveiled a series of legislative expectations that include making significant immigration reforms, cutting federal spending, and prohibiting stock trading by members. “Negotiations on leadership choices are always possible under the rules,” the GOP members remarked in their statements.
On Truth Social, Trump hailed Johnson’s election, describing it as an “unprecedented vote of confidence in Congress.” He wrote, “The People of America have awaited four years for Common Sense, Strength, and Leadership. They’ll get it now and America will be greater than ever before.” Earlier in the day, Trump had expressed his endorsement of Johnson.
In a misstep, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent out a fundraising email during the speaker vote, claiming that Johnson had failed to secure his position, which was premature as the voting was still ongoing. The email claimed that Johnson “just LOST his bid to be reelected Speaker…” but ultimately, Johnson was elected on the first ballot.
Representative Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat, used the occasion to urge collaboration among lawmakers to alleviate living costs in America while focusing on border security. “America is too expensive,” he emphasized as he passed the speaker’s gavel to Johnson, highlighting the issues Democrats hope to prioritize in the 2024 elections.
The vote totals for Speaker showed Johnson earning 218 votes, Jeffries with 215, and Tom Emmer receiving one. As he reclaimed his post, he was accompanied to the dais by members of his leadership team, alongside Louisiana lawmakers, marking a monumental moment as Johnson solidified his leadership.
Just prior to the vote, Norman and Self switched their votes at a critical junction, standing beside Johnson and shaking hands after their decision.
On the Senate front, Majority Leader John Thune committed to maintaining the filibuster in his inaugural address, emphasizing that he intends to uphold traditional Senate practices and ensure the legislative body functions appropriately, despite calls from Trump to eliminate the filibuster.
Newly inaugurated senators included four Democrats and five Republicans, although a sixth Republican, Jim Justice from West Virginia, would delay his swearing-in until after his governor’s successor assumes office on January 13.
As Johnson faced down the holdouts, he communicated with several lawmakers in private rooms, indicating ongoing negotiations. Meanwhile, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, who had sought the speaker role, expressed confidence that Republicans would navigate the situation effectively, stating that they would ultimately “make deals.”
Democrats observed from the sidelines as tension filled the air, laughing and reacting to the Republican dissent. Jeffries described the internal party strife as a “GOP Civil War” on the initial day. Rep. Stacey Plaskett, representing the U.S. Virgin Islands, called attention to the exclusion of territories in the speaker vote process, emphasizing their contributions and representation in Congress, earning applause from Democrats.
As the first ballot approached its conclusion, Johnson’s team worked to rally support among hesitant members. Despite enthusiasm from the House Republicans, dissenting GOP votes could pose a challenge to Johnson’s control over the speaker position.
Highlighting the stakes, those opposed to Johnson included members expressing significant doubts about his capacity to deliver on key issues. Some Republicans made their intentions known, expressing dissatisfaction with previous leadership decisions and uncertainty about Johnson’s plan moving forward.
Moreover, the ongoing internal conflicts indicate that Johnson’s hold on leadership might be tenuous, particularly if far-right factions continue to express their frustrations publicly. New and returning lawmakers often used the climax of the speaker vote to engage in personal moments, like taking selfies with family, creating a festive ambiance despite the underlying tension of the proceedings.
Ultimately, the speaker vote signifies not just an internal party battle but also sets the tone for how effectively Congress will operate in the coming term, underlining the precarious balance of power and the challenges ahead for the newly reelected speaker.
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