Weeks of infighting among House Republicans over their next speaker, which paralyzed the chamber during a time of global turmoil, opened a lane for their fourth-round draft pick to finally claim the gavel on Wednesday.
The House voted 220-209 to elect Rep. Mike Johnson speaker, bringing to an end an impasse that sank three other candidates before him and reopening the House for business. Not a single Republican voted against him — a feat which eluded his predecessor at the start of this Congress — while all Democrats who were present backed Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
“The challenge before us is great, but the time for action is now and I will not let you down,” Johnson, 51, said in a floor speech after being elected on Wednesday. “Let the enemies of freedom around the world hear us loud and clear: The people’s House is back in business.”
