House Republicans coalesced around Mike Johnson Friday to reelect him as House speaker after a tumultuous vote.
The speedy reelection of Johnson, 52, to the speakership means that Republicans avoided the embarrassing pitfall of taking days to elect a leader – as was the case two years ago when they burned through 15 ballots over five days before finally settling on former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Republicans ultimately sided with Johnson despite some GOP discontents dramatically voting against the speaker at the outset.
With an ultra-slim majority, just two GOP ‘No’ votes would be enough to stop Johnson from victory, which is what happened for a moment.
Three Republicans preliminarily bucked Johnson. The vote was 216 for Johnson, 215 for Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, and three votes for other candidates.
But the vote was never gaveled out, so lawmakers still had the opportunity to change their ballots.
Those 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 backed the incumbent.
The final total was 218 for Johnson and 215 for Jeffries, giving Johnson a reelection victory on the first ballot. Self and Norman spoke to Donald Trump by phone before changing their votes, CNN reported.
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 on Friday
Ahead of the vote reporters swarm Johnson to inquire if he has enough support to get reelected
‘It is the great honor of my life to serve this body with all of you,’ Johnson told members in the House chamber after winning reelection. He also thanked his wife and children who were in attendance.
Johnson was always expected to lose some Republican support, though.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., declared for weeks ahead of the vote that he was against reelecting the speaker, meaning only one more GOP ‘No’ vote would be enough to tank Johnson’s chances.
Massie on Friday voted for Johnson’s deputy, Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., instead.
Then, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., shockingly voted for Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
His vote caused the chamber to pause as members came to realize the implications.
After Norman, Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, voted for Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., further exacerbating Johnson’s potential first ballot loss.
Further stunning members in the chamber, a number of GOP members initially withheld their vote.
House Freedom Caucus (HFC) chair Andy Harris and some other members of the group did not answer when called upon to cast their vote, stirring drama in the chamber as members sat on edge awaiting the results.
Reps. Andy Biggs, Andrew Clyde, Michael Cloud, Paul Gosar, Chip Ropy, all members of the HFC in addition to Harris, did not vote initially. But later they were called again, and all cast their votes for Johnson.
Representatives Chip Roy, Republican from Texas, Ralph Norman, Republican from South Carolina, and Tim Burchett, Republican from Tennessee, speak with each other as Thomas Massie, Republican from Kentucky, looks on during the vote for Speaker of the House during the first day of the 119th Congress in the House Chamber at the US 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 U.S. Capitol Building on January 03, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., was even spotted on the phone with Trump’s incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles while pacing the House floor following Johnson’s initial defeat.
After Johnson’s support seemed to falter, he scurried out of the chamber to huddle with Self and Norman.
The trio were seen talking, presumably trying to find common ground on getting Johnson elected.
But the speaker has repeatedly said he will not strike quid pro quo deals with members to secure their voting for him, meaning he does not have much to offer Self, Norman or Massie.
Johnson’s chat with the lawmakers – in addition to Trump’s – must’ve convinced them to change their votes.
Soon after the conversation the two lawmakers walked to the center of the House chamber and changed their votes, giving Johnson the speaker’s gavel for the next two years.
Celebrating the victory, Trump posted on Truth Social: ‘Congratulations to Speaker Mike Johnson for receiving an unprecedented vote of confidence in Congress.’
‘Mike will be a Great Speaker, and our Country will be the beneficiary. The People of America have waited four years for Common Sense, Strength, and Leadership. They’ll get it now, and America will be greater than ever before!’
U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) speaks on the phone with incoming Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, as representatives gather to vote for the new Speaker of the House on the first day of the 119th Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 3, 2025
Speaker Mike Johnson and his wife Kelly Johnson with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in September
Trump had been voicing his support for Johnson’s reelection for weeks.
Just ahead of the vote Friday President-elect Trump made clear to all House Republicans where he stood in a Truth post: ‘Good luck today for Speaker Mike Johnson, a fine man of great ability, who is very close to having 100% support.’
‘A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party, and yet another acknowledgment of our 129 year most consequential Presidential Election!! – A big affirmation, indeed. MAGA!’
If the speaker elections dragged on, the engine of Congress may have stalled and disrupted Donald Trump’s election certification planned for Monday, January 6.
Since the House cannot function without a speaker, should the vote had gone on to multiple ballots over multiple days the chamber may have not be in order to certify the 2024 election results on time.
Knowing this, Johnson warned the GOP they could not ‘afford a palace drama.’
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) is working to retain the Speakership in the face of opposition within his own party as the 119th Congress holds its first session to vote for a new Speaker of the House.
Thomas Massie voted against Johnson for speaker on Friday
He also posted on X just ahead of the speaker vote a list of promises that he would keep to placate GOP members concerned with the federal budget deficit.
One of those promises was to create a group of outside experts to work alongside Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut spending.
After the election’s results were finalized, the HFC released a statement from many members upset with Johnson’s leadership.
The memo outlined demands the conservative group want from the speaker, including longer work weeks in Congress’ first 100 days along with power to amend certain legislation.
The group also requested that upcoming legislation meaningfully addresses the growing deficit.
‘Now, Speaker Mike Johnson must prove he will not fail to enact President Trump’s bold agenda,’ the group wrote.
