Republican Mike Johnson secured reelection as House Speaker on Friday in a high-stakes first ballot vote, overcoming opposition from hardline GOP members and bolstered by a public endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump.
The vote followed a tumultuous week for the 119th Congress, underscoring the challenges Johnson faces as he leads a deeply divided Republican Party with one of the slimmest majorities in modern history.
Johnson’s path to reelection was far from smooth. Early in the roll call, Representatives Tom Massie (R-Ky.), Keith Self (R-Texas), and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) withheld their support, joining a contingent of GOP hardliners who gathered in the back of the House chamber. Some declined to vote, while others cast ballots for alternative candidates.
However, Johnson managed to flip two of the dissenting votes, securing applause from his Republican colleagues as he crossed the threshold needed for reelection.
Johnson’s reelection ensures a functioning House as the GOP takes unified control of Washington. Yet the divisions laid bare during the vote signal potential turbulence for advancing President-elect Trump’s ambitious agenda, which includes tax cuts and mass deportations in the first 100 days.
The House speakership election, a constitutional prerequisite to conducting legislative business, delayed the swearing-in of new members and cast uncertainty over the planned certification of Trump’s 2024 presidential victory on January 6.
“No speaker’s perfect,” said GOP Conference Chair Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), who nominated Johnson. “But the goal is to make progress toward shared priorities for the country.”
Democrats, meanwhile, rallied behind their leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), presenting him as a steady hand in contrast to Republican “chaos and dysfunction.”
Johnson assumes his role with a precarious majority of 219-215, requiring near-unanimous support from Republicans to advance legislation. The resignation of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has further reduced the margin.
Notable holdouts like Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) initially criticized Johnson for GOP leadership’s handling of key issues, including the year-end spending bill. Roy ultimately supported Johnson, but other far-right members, including Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), voted for alternative candidates.
Johnson has already made concessions to appease both centrist and conservative factions, including a rule change requiring nine members of the majority party to back any resolution to oust the speaker—a move to avoid a repeat of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s ouster.
The opening of the new Congress also marked historic milestones. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) became the first two Black women to serve in the Senate simultaneously.
In the House, Sarah McBride (D-Del.) became the first openly transgender member of Congress, while Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi returned to Washington following hip replacement surgery.
Johnson’s leadership will be tested as he aligns the House with Trump’s agenda. The speaker described himself as the “quarterback” to Trump’s “coach,” emphasizing the urgency of a unified GOP to prevent a constitutional crisis on January 6, when Congress is required to certify the electoral votes.
As the session began, Vice President Kamala Harris swore in new senators, while Johnson prepared the House for what promises to be a contentious term with the GOP at the helm.
