In an atmosphere of thrilling political tension, Mike Johnson finds himself once more on a thrilling obstacle-filled path. Holding the esteemed House Speaker position and magnificently securing his spot as the second most powerful person in the American political hierarchy, Johnson finds himself at a crossroads going into the new Congress. The scene is all set for Friday, when Republican representatives will once again decide whether they want Johnson to wield the speaker’s gavel. The marvelous fact, however, is that Johnson goes into the polling knowing he enjoys the preference of nearly the entire Republican fraternity.
In a political landscape of checks and balances, every edge matters. For Johnson, one edge stands out distinctively: an endorsement from none other than Donald Trump. At the start of the week, President-elect Trump showed his faith in Johnson, endorsing him for the speaker position. However, this won’t be a walk in the park for Johnson as he still faces potential opposition from a few far-right Republicans.
Far-right Republicans have occasionally expressed dissatisfaction regarding Johnson’s leadership. Yet, the reality of politics often requires that these outliers must sometimes hold their ground to make their demands heard. While their frustrations, if any, may surface on voting day, it’s worth noting that these expressions of dissent often become significant only when the overall vote stands to be deeply impacted by a small fraction.
The ascendance of Mike Johnson, 52, as the Speaker of the House has an interesting backstory. Emerging as a dark-horse candidate following the unprecedented disposal of Kevin McCarthy from the position in October 2023, Johnson proceeded to win the speakership after several other hopefuls failed to secure the spot. His ascent represented not just a settling of the dust but also a consensus that Johnson was largely admired across the entire Republican conference.
Johnson’s tenure, however, has not been without significant political battles. His orchestration of crucial funding endeavors, especially the aid provided to Ukraine and the short-term spending bill, has been the subject of scrutiny. A few allies have since turned into detractors, yet his core support remains strong, reflecting the delicate balance of politics.
The current political landscape of an extremely slender 220-215 majority held by the Republicans in the House means that Johnson cannot afford to lose significant ground. Piercingly, it would only take votes from two GOP lawmakers cast for other contenders to deny Johnson a majority for the speakership. This situation could lead to a thrilling multiple-round election, further intensifying the spectacle.
The commencement of a fresh Congressional session constitutes a pivotal moment in the life of the House, with the speaker’s election being a major milestone. Even before the members are sworn into office, they cast their votes for the new speaker. This person doesn’t merely sit as a presiding officer but also acts as the institution’s administrative head. Hence, the House cannot function until a speaker is in place.
Historically, the speakership position does not change hands frequently. Interestingly, there have been only 13 instances since the inception of the U.S. Constitution when the speakership seat fell vacant according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. The removal of a speaker is even rarer, with only the recent case of Kevin McCarthy as an example, where both Republicans and Democrats collectively decided for a change in leadership.
The election of the House speaker, presided over by the House clerk, is a grand, rousing spectacle. All members of the House pronounce their preferred speaker from the floor during this rare roll call event, further fueling the drama on the floor. Johnson, in the past, has been the choice of the Republicans, chosen in a closed-door vote in November.
In stark contrast to the Republican nomination of Johnson for the speaker position, Democrats selected Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to remain their leader. Despite the party’s electoral losses, the decision to back Jeffries was unanimous. However, it’s critical to note that members are not strictly bound to support their party’s nominee. They can exercise their privilege to pick the best candidate for the role from their perspective.
Once the House hits a quorum, the formal speeches endorsing the nominees commence. The House clerk then assigns tellers from each party to count the votes before roll-calling begins. For a nominee to assume the speakership, he or she must secure the majority of votes from the members present and voting. Any ‘present’ vote decreases the total count needed for a majority, adding another fascinating layer to this complex process.
Should the speaker nominee not secure a majority, the clerk initiates another round of roll call vote. Upon crowning a winner, the announcement of this important election result is made. The individual so named is then escorted to the chair by a bipartisan committee, typically consisting of members from the elected speaker’s home state. This ceremonial procession culminates in the oath-taking at the speaker’s chair.
Traditional practice sees the outgoing speaker join his successor, passing on the esteemed speaker’s gavel in a mark of peaceful transition of power among party leaders. However, given that Johnson is the incumbent, should he emerge victorious, Jeffries will likely be the one to ceremonially return the gavel to him, symbolizing continuity and stability in leadership.