Republican Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana secured the gavel on the first vote Wednesday after the House had been without a speaker for three weeks.
Johnson was the House GOP’s fourth speaker nominee since Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the role on Oct. 3. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise both withdrew from the race prior to a floor vote, and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan failed to receive enough support after three rounds of voting.
“It is the honor of a lifetime to have been elected the 56th Speaker of the House,” Johnson wrote in a tweet. “Thank you to my colleagues, friends, staff, and family for the unmatched support throughout this process. It has been an arduous few weeks, and a reminder that the House is as complicated and diverse as the people we represent. The urgency of this moment demands bold, decisive action to restore trust, advance our legislative priorities, and demonstrate good governance. Our House Republican Conference is united, and eager to work.”
Every House Republican voted for Johnson, and all House Democrats supported Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for speaker. (RELATED: Here’s What You Need To Know About GOP Speaker Nominee Mike Johnson)
House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik of New York gave Johnson a nominating speech ahead of the vote and praised the congressman for being a “servant leader” who has the ability to unite GOP members.
The People are looking to this great Chamber to save America. And save America, we will. pic.twitter.com/ifHl1G58Y6
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) October 25, 2023
Johnson was one of nine House Republicans vying for the conference’s nomination on Tuesday, which originally elevated Emmer for the position. After Emmer withdrew from the race hours later, Johnson won the nomination against Republican Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida, Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, Mark Green of Tennessee and Roger Williams of Texas.
Emmer, Jordan and Scalise all threw their support behind Johnson for speaker. While former President Donald Trump didn’t officially endorse Johnson, he urged House Republicans to vote for the congressman ahead of the floor vote Wednesday.
Johnson is in his fourth term in Congress and serves as the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference. The congressman sits on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Armed Services Committee.
“As Speaker, I will ensure the House delivers results and inspires change for the American people,” Johnson wrote. “We will restore trust in this body. We will advance a comprehensive conservative policy agenda, combat the harmful policies of the Biden Administration, and support our allies abroad. And we will restore sanity to a government desperately in need of it. Let’s get back to work.”
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