House Republicans united around Mike Johnson on Friday to re-elect him as Speaker of the House of Representatives after a tumultuous vote.
The quick re-election of 52-year-old Johnson as chairman means Republicans avoided the embarrassing pitfall of taking days to choose a leader – as was the case two years ago when they burned 15 ballots in five days before finally settling names with former chairman Kevin McCarthy.
Republicans ultimately sided with Johnson, despite some dissatisfaction from the Republican Party, which voted dramatically against the speaker early on.
With an ultra-slim majority, just two “No” votes from the Republican Party would be enough to keep Johnson from winning, which happened briefly.
Three Republicans have provisionally rejected Johnson. The votes were 216 for Johnson, 215 for Democrat Hakeem Jeffries and three votes for the other candidates.
But the vote was never announced, so lawmakers still had the opportunity to change their vote.
The three Republicans who voted for other candidates were Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Keith Self of Texas. But after Johnson huddled with Self and Norman, the two lawmakers changed their votes and supported the incumbent president.
The final totals were 218 for Johnson and 215 for Jeffries, giving Speaker Mike Johnson a re-election victory on the first ballot.
U.S. Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to reporters outside his office at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 3, 2025. He was reelected as Speaker of the House of Representatives on Friday
Before the election, reporters approach Johnson to ask whether he has enough support to be re-elected
The representatives of South Carolina and Texas spoke with Donald Trump by phone before changing their votes, CNN reported.
However, Johnson was always expected to lose some Republican support.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., declared weeks ahead of the vote that he opposed the chairman’s re-election, meaning just one “no” vote from the Republican party would be enough to damage Johnson’s chances.
Massie voted Friday for Johnson’s replacement, Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn.
Then Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., shockingly voted for Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
His vote caused the House to pause as members realized its implications.
After Norman voted, Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, for Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., further exacerbating Johnson’s early vote loss.
Shockingly, even more Republican members initially abstained.
House Freedom Caucus (HFC) Chairman Andy Harris and several other members of the group did not answer when called upon to cast their votes, causing drama in the chamber as members waited on edge to vote. see if they had to go through the lengthy voting process. again.
Representatives Andy Biggs, Andrew Clyde, Michael Cloud, Paul Gosar, Chip Ropy, all members of the HFC besides Harris, did not initially vote. But later they were called again and all cast their votes for Johnson.
Representatives Chip Roy, Republican of Texas, Ralph Norman, Republican of South Carolina, and Tim Burchett, Republican of Tennessee, speak as Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky, looks on during the vote for Speaker of the House of Representatives on the first day of the 119th Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 3, 2025. Massie and Norman voted against Johnson
Rep. Chip Roy (L) talks to Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) as they arrive for the first day of the 119th Congress in the House Chamber of the US Capitol Building on January 3, 2025 in Washington, DC.
After Johnson’s support seemed to falter, he rushed out of the room to join Self and Norman.
The trio were seen chatting, presumably in an attempt to find common ground to get Johnson elected.
But the speaker has repeatedly said he won’t enter into quid pro quo deals with members to secure their vote for him, meaning he doesn’t have much to offer Self, Norman or Massie.
Johnson’s conversation with lawmakers must have convinced them to change their vote.
Shortly after the conversation, the two lawmakers walked to the center of the House of Representatives chamber and changed their votes, giving Johnson the gavel for the next two years.
Firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., was even spotted on the phone with Trump’s new chief of staff, Susie Wiles, as she walked around the House floor after Johnson’s initial defeat.
Minutes before the vote, Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., at
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) speaks on the phone with new Chief of Staff Susie Wiles as representatives gather to vote for the new Speaker of the House of Representatives on the first day of the 119th Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, USA , January 3, 2025
Although Burchett ultimately voted for Johnson, his post was ultimately prophetic.
Just before the vote on Friday, President-elect Trump made it clear to all Republicans in the House of Representatives where he stood in a Truth Social post: ‘Good luck today to Chairman Mike Johnson, a fine man with great abilities, who is very close to 100 % support stands’ .’
“A win for Mike today will be a major win for the Republican Party, and yet another recognition of our 129-year, most consequential presidential election!! – A big confirmation, indeed. MAGA!’
If presidential elections continue, the engine of Congress could block and disrupt Donald Trump’s election certification scheduled for Monday, January 6.
Since the House cannot function without a speaker, if multiple rounds of voting take place over several days, the House may have failed to certify the 2024 election results on time.
Knowing this, Johnson warned the Republican party that they could not afford “palace drama.”
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) is doing his best to retain the presidency despite opposition within his own party as the 119th Congress holds its first session to vote for a new Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Thomas Massie voted against Johnson for chairman on Friday
He also posted on X just before the speaker’s vote a list of promises he would keep to appease GOP members concerned about the federal budget deficit.
One of those promises was to create a group of outside experts who would work with Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut spending.
That’s why Johnson met with conservative members of his conference on Thursday after meeting to hear their concerns and convince them to vote for him.
Republican Reps. Chip Roy, Victoria Spartz, Harris, Biggs, Ralph Norman, Crane and more lawmakers undecided about voting met with the speaker Thursday.
Roy, R-Texas, said Johnson was a good friend but remained undecided until the vote. He has criticized the speaker for his handling of the spending deal to avoid a government shutdown last month.
Spartaz, meanwhile, told reporters who were just leading the vote that she had decided to support Johnson. Although Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., indicated before the vote that there will be multiple rounds of voting on the speakers.
Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., nominated Johnson to become speaker again with a glowing speech.
‘More than fourteen months ago, Mike Johnson took on a difficult task. No speaker is perfect, and no one ever will be. However, achieving perfection requires gradual gains and difficult decisions. None of us are going to get exactly what we want.”
“Mike has remained the same kind and caring person he was before he took on this role… It is my honor to represent our conference’s nominee for Speaker of the House, the Honorable Mike Johnson of the State of Louisiana.”