On a triumphant Friday, bolstered by President-elect Donald Trump’s sterling endorsement, Republican Mike Johnson won reelection as the House Speaker in the very first round, undeterred by any detractors from the GOP’s staunch conservative flank. Several hard-right Republicans gathered quietly at the back of the House chamber as names were being called, with some either withholding their vote or opting for other legislators instead. This apparent standoff indicated potential complications for the Republicans’ newly-acquired, unified control of Washington. Yet, Johnson diplomatically convinced the last two dissenters to lend him their support – a move that was greeted by hearty applause from fellow members of the GOP.
As a refresher, Johnson’s recent term as House Speaker was not without its challenges. Conspiracy theorists might even point to his supposed ‘fragile hold’ over the Speaker’s gavel as a threat to President-elect Trump’s upcoming agenda (which includes some needed tax reforms and lawful immigration measures) as the Republicans prepare to take over. As names were being put forward for nomination, newly elected House representatives began casting their votes, with GOP Conference Chair – Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich. singing Johnson’s praises.
According to McClain, ‘No speaker’s perfect,’ but the shared aim is to work towards the collective interests of the nation. Her humility was refreshing as she said, ‘None of us will get exactly what we want.’ Moreover, the Democrats, seemingly clinging to the last vestiges of power, nominated their own leader, Hakeem Jeffries from New York. They presented him as a champion of compromise and achievement, conveniently overlooking the ‘chaos and dysfunction’ they often attributed to the Republican majority.
Predictably, the Democrats praised Jeffries, calling him the ‘most powerful legislative leader in this chamber.’ It’s worth noting that these words came from none other than Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif. However, Johnson, undeterred by the confident words of Aguilar, walked into the chamber with an air of calm assurance after successfully converting several adamant holdouts.
Here’s a hypothetical scenario that could have unfolded had Johnson not secured his reelection as House Speaker: the confirmation of Trump’s 2024 election victory during Monday’s congressional certification might have turned into chaotic proceedings due to the absence of a House speaker. Yet, even the strongest support from Trump himself, which seasoned Republicans mutually regard as a ‘sure bet’, was not enough to fully guarantee Johnson’s continued speakership.
As Johnson stepped into the Capitol, he echoed a sentiment many share: ‘We don’t have time for drama.’ The Louisiana Republican then received a renewed seal of approval from Trump, who stated in a heartfelt social media post, ‘A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party.’
Unlike the Senate, which can assemble independently and has already chosen its party leaders, such as Sen. John Thune serving as the Republican Majority Leader and Sen. Chuck Schumer for the Democrats, the Constitution makes it mandatory for the House to first elect its Speaker, the person second in line to the President. Understanding the gravity of his own role, Johnson had been tirelessly working towards thwarting any chances of defeat and spent New Year’s Day at Mar-a-Lago, aligning himself with Trump’s priorities.
In fact, Johnson wasted no time in raising the alarm about the potential ‘constitutional crisis’ that could ensue without a House speaker, especially by January 6 when Congress is legally bound to count the electoral votes for the president – weeks before Trump’s inauguration scheduled for January 20.
Johnson may have won this time by a narrow margin, one of the tightest in recent history, due especially to the loss of seats in the November elections. Tellingly, following the abrupt resignation of Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., the tally dipped to 219-215. This puts Johnson in a position where he must maintain the support of almost every Republican in light of the formidable Democratic opposition.
One of these reluctant Republicans was none other than Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy, a tenacious member of the Freedom Caucus. Now, though, it remains uncertain what additional promises Johnson might have to make in order to win more support. Johnson has already retrieved one lost advantage – a new House rule, championed by centrist conservatives, that mandates at least nine members of the majority party to support any resolution to remove the Speaker.
Remember, Johnson was not the first choice for the role of House Speaker, but he worked his way up from his humble beginnings on the back bench after other leaders failed. It seems unlikely Democrats under Jeffries will offer a lending hand to save Johnson from removal, unlike in the past, when their votes played a key part in securing his position during a potential threat of removal.
The election of the speaker is set to be the highlight of the opening of the new Congress, which also welcomes an impressive list of history-making members. In the Senate, history will be made with the entry of two Black women – Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, who will both sport white suffragette suits. This marks the first time in US history that two Black women will simultaneously serve as Senators.
Other history-making additions to the new Congress include Sen.-elect Andy Kim of New Jersey, the first Korean American to enter the chamber, and Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person in Congress. Adding further to the anticipation, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, recently beset by a fall overseas and a hip replacement surgery, is also poised to make her return to Washington, a stark reminder of the power she once held when Democrats were in the majority.