Today's recap
After weeks of political infighting and unsuccessful speaker nominations, the Louisiana Republican representative Mike Johnson has become House speaker.
The vote came out to 220-209 with every House Republican voting for him. The vote marks a breakthrough in a three-week limbo after House Republicans voted to oust Kevin McCarthy from the seat earlier this month.
Johnson has already faced questions over his history of supporting Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election
Groups advocating for human rights, including LGBTQ+ and womens’ rights have said that Johnson’s speakership is a threat, condemning his far-right views and voting record.
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Democrats believe Johnson’s central role in refuting the 2020 election results and his conservative views on many social issues could help them win back the House next year.
– Chris Stein, Joan E Greve, Maanvi Singh
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Now that the House has a speaker, it’s right onto business. Once the speaker is sworn in, the House will consider a resolution to stand with Israel.
The broad resolution affirms Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. It also calls for sanctions and aid. It will be interesting to see how Johnson and other Republicans land on the issue.
Last month, Johnson was among 93 Republicans who supported an amendment to cut off military assistance to Ukraine, proposed by hard-right congressman Matt Gaetz.
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The progressive advocacy organization Stand Up America has called Johnson’s speakership “a threat to our democracy”.
Following Johnson’s win, Stand Up America’s founder and president Sean Eldridge said:
“Today is a dark day for American democracy. Mike Johnson’s record of election denial and his attempts to overturn the will of the people make him totally unfit to be second in line to the presidency. Those who have spent years trying to undermine our democracy cannot be trusted to lead it.
Entrusting the House of Representatives to a man the New York Times called ‘the most important architect of the electoral college objections’ is proof of House Republicans’ contempt for our freedom to vote. The American people deserve a speaker who will stand up for our democracy and our fundamental freedoms, but sadly, House Republicans have embraced Maga extremism instead.”
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The Democratic Women’s Caucus has also condemned Mike Johnson’s win, citing his history of supporting legislation that targeted women’s rights including the 2022 US supreme court overturning of Roe v Wade.
House Republicans’ new speaker of the House, Rep. Mike Johnson, is a MAGA extremist through and through. While Democrats have worked to lower costs for working women, Mike Johnson has opposed efforts to make child care more affordable, and wants to cut Medicare and Social Security and ban abortion nationwide,” the caucus said.
“The Democratic Women’s Caucus unanimously voted no – because a vote for speaker Johnson was a vote against women,” it added.
Johnson has previously voted against the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the Pump for Nursing Mothers Act, bipartisan legislations that offered to give expecting and new mothers increased workplace protections.
He also voted against bipartisan legislation to protect victims of sexual assault and harassment, including the Speak Out Act and the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harrassment Act.
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The Human Rights Campaign, the country’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group, has condemned Mike Johnson’s new House speakership position.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the president of HRC, Kelley Robinson, said:
“The Maga House majority has selected the most anti-equality speaker in US history by elevating Mike Johnson – this is a choice that will be a stain on the record of everyone who voted for him.
Johnson is someone who doesn’t hesitate to express his disdain for the LGTBQ+ community from the rooftops and then introduces legislation that seeks to erase us from society. Just like Jim Jordan, Mike Johnson is an election-denying, anti-LGBTQ+ extremist, and the lawmakers who appeared to stand on principle in opposing Jordan’s bid have revealed themselves to be just as out-of-touch as their new leader.”
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Joe Biden on Mike Johnson's House speaker win: 'This is a time for all of us to act responsibly'
Joe Biden has congratulated Mike Johnson on becoming the House’s newest speaker and called for lawmakers across the aisle to move quickly to address national security needs.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Biden said:
“Jill and I congratulate Speaker Johnson on his election.
As I said when this process began, whoever the Speaker is, I will seek to work with them in good faith on behalf of the American people …We need to move swiftly to address our national security needs and to avoid a shutdown in 22 days.
Even though we have real disagreements about important issues, there should be mutual effort to find common ground wherever we can.
This is a time for all of us to act responsibly, and to put the good of the American people and the everyday priorities of American families above any partisanship.”
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In other news, Minnesota representative Dean Phillips is expected to launch a 2024 Democratic presidential primary challenge against Joe Biden.
Phillips, 54, will reportedly launch his campaign on Friday, Fox News reported, citing people familiar with his campaign.
From there, Phillips will travel to New Hampshire and file his name for the state’s primary ballot.
Several Democrats have discouraged Phillips from running, in response to the expected announcement.
“He ought to go home to Minnesota,” Democratic senator Peter Welch said to the Huffington Post.
“It’s a distraction and he’s going to be hounding on the president not because of policies – the Democrats support the policies and accomplishments of Biden – so he’s going to try to unravel that. It’s not helpful,” Welch added.
The Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren told the Post that she also disapproves of Phillips’s run.
“It just doesn’t make sense,” Warren said to the Post. “I’m all for President Biden getting re-elected. He has delivered for America’s middle class and he’s going to win.”
Despite the ire, Phillips’s campaign seems all the ready to launch. A tour bus for Dean Phillips was spotted in Ohio, CBS News reported.
The bus reading, “Dean Phillips For President”, was seen driving through Ohio on Tuesday, presumably headed towards New Hampshire. The bus also featured Phillips’s slogan: “Make America Affordable Again”.
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Johnson is now delivering remarks in his first speech to the House after being elected as the 56th House speaker on Wednesday.
After walking up to the podium, Johnson and the House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, hugged as Jeffries handed Johnson the House speaker gavel.
During his speech, Johnson vowed to decentralize power in the House and have members more involved in the process, the Hill reported.
“We owe that to the people,” he said.
Johnson has also said that the first bill he will bring to the floor on Wednesday is a resolution in support of Israel.
From Punchbowl News’ Mica Soellner:
JOHNSON said the first bill he plans to bring the floor as speaker today is a pro-Israel resolution later today.
— Mica Soellner (@MicaSoellnerDC) October 25, 2023
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More reactions are pouring in after Mike Johnson becomes the 56th House speaker, following weeks of House electoral chaos.
The Congressional Integrity Project (CIP), a liberal activist group, said those who supported Johnson “voted For Election Denial and Radical Extremism”.
“All of the House Republicans who supported Mike Johnson for Speaker voted for election denial, a national abortion ban, and gutting Social Security and Medicare,” CIP said in a statement.
“Johnson will use the Speaker’s power to continue to undermine our democracy, restore Trump to power, and pursue a Maga Republican agenda that throws working families under the bus,” the group said.
CIP was relaunched by Democrats in 2022 as a counterpoint to House Republicans, particularly following the January 6 insurrection and the belief in the Republican party that the 2020 election results were falsified.
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Mike Johnson has published a statement to social media following his win as the House’s newest speaker.
In a statement posted to X, Johnson acknowledged the “arduous” House speaker election process that has dominated the Republican party for weeks.
“It has been an arduous few weeks, and a reminder that the House is as complicated and diverse as the people we represent,” Johnson said.
“The urgency of this moment demands bold, decisive action to restore trust, advance our legislative priorities, and demonstrate good governance,” he said.
Johnson further said that, as House speaker, he will work to restore “trust” in the House and “sanity” within the government more broadly.
“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,” Johnson added.
“And we will restore sanity to a government desperately in need of it. Let’s get back to work,” he said.
It is the honor of a lifetime to have been elected the 56th Speaker of the House.
— Rep. Mike Johnson (@RepMikeJohnson) October 25, 2023
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…
The Republican National Committee has congratulated Mike Johnson as the House’s newest speaker.
In a statement released following the House vote, RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said:
“Congratulations to the new speaker of the House, Mike Johnson! In eight months, the Republican House majority passed bills to lower energy costs, secure the border, defend parents’ rights, improve public safety, and more. When Republicans come together, we deliver results, and that’s what we need to showcase ahead of 2024. We delivered this majority to bring solutions to the American people. It’s time for Republicans to unite behind speaker Johnson and get back to work.”
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Mike Johnson wins House vote to become next speaker
House Republicans have voted for Mike Johnson to be the newest speaker.
The vote came out to 220-209 with every House Republican voting for him.
The vote marks a breakthrough in a three-week limbo after House Republicans voted to oust Kevin McCarthy from the seat earlier this month.
Following the vote, House Republicans erupted into cheers and applause as the Louisiana representative was elevated to one of the highest offices in the US government.
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Steve Scalise, once a top contender of the House speaker race only to then drop out, has voted for Mike Johnson.
As with Kevin McCarthy and Patrick McHenry’s votes for Johnson, Republicans stood up and applauded the Louisiana Republican for his vote.
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Patrick McHenry, the House speaker pro tempore, has cast his vote for Mike Johnson as the next House speaker.
Republicans stood and applauded the North Carolina Republican representative.
Speaker Pro Temp Patrick McHenry from the chair votes for Mike Johnson for Speaker. Republicans stand and applaud. pic.twitter.com/40Hd2Lu5n1
— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) October 25, 2023
Former House speaker Kevin McCarthy has voted for Mike Johnson as the next House speaker.
In response, House Republicans stood up around him and clapped.
The Democratic National Committee has criticized Mike Johnson’s House speaker nomination, calling the Louisiana representative the “new Maga speaker-designate”.
In a statement released on Wednesday, a DNC spokesperson, Sarafina Chitika said:
“Many Americans are waking up this morning wondering – who is Mike Johnson? We’re here to help: Maga Republicans’ new speaker-designate supports extreme nationwide abortion bans. He led the charge for Donald Trump denying president Biden’s legitimate election win and tried to overthrow the votes of 81 million Americans.
He’s a leading proponent of slashing Social Security and Medicare. Mike Johnson is a carbon-copy of the Maga extremism that is deeply unpopular with Americans across the country. House Republicans will have to answer for their support for their new Maga speaker next November. Make no mistake: the American people will hold them accountable for this choice.”
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The Minnesota Democratic representative Angie Craig voiced her vote for Hakeem Jeffries by saying, “Happy wedding anniversary to my wife – Hakeem Jeffries!”
Democrats stood up and applauded Craig, the first openly lesbian mother elected to Congress and first openly gay person elected to Congress from Minnesota.
Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker nominee, has been a long-standing opponent of same-sex marriages.
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House vote under way for Mike Johnson as speaker
The House has started voting in the first ballot on Mike Johnson’s speakership nomination.
This marks the fourth round of voting in the House for a new speaker.
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Punchbowl News reports that for the first time, there was unanimous applause for a House speaker candidate on the GOP side.
For the first time, unanimous applause for a speaker candidate on the GOP side.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 25, 2023
Today’s House attendance is 429. That means 215 votes are required for Johnson to win the gavel if everyone votes for a person by name, Punchbowl News reports.
HOUSE ATTENDANCE TODAY: 429
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 25, 2023
215 for Johnson to win, if everyone votes for a person by name
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Ahead of a floor vote on Mike Johnson’s candidacy to be the next speaker of the House, the House Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries, warned that Republicans were poised to elevate a political extremist who voted to overturn the US election and supports a nationwide ban on abortion.
During an interview at a conference hosted by the left-leaning Washington thinktank, Center for American Progress, Jeffries said Johnson “has a very pleasant demeanor in terms of how he communicates, but his voting record is as extreme as the most extreme members of their conference, with very few exceptions”.
He added: “Mike Johnson, probably more so than almost any other member of the House Republican conference, wants to criminalize abortion care and impose a nationwide ban.”
Jeffries said his caucus would “forcefully push back” on Republican “extremism”. He also called on the would-be speaker to bring legislation to the floor that would secure additional aid for both Ukraine and Israel, rather than split the bills to appease what Jeffries called the “pro-Putin caucus”.
In the friendly interview, the MSNBC host Ari Melber pressed Jeffries: “It sort of sounds like you’re saying Congressman Johnson is just a less stylistically annoying Jim Jordan?”
“One could say that,” Jeffries said to laughs in the audience.
But the Democratic leader added that Johnson, more so than Republicans’ previous candidates for speaker, has a working relationship with members of the House judiciary committee that could be the foundation for bipartisan work. He also noted Johnson’s vote for two Trump-era bills that won broad bipartisan support: the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement and on a criminal justice overhaul bill.
Still, Jeffries has no intention of backing Johnson to be speaker. Before heading back to Capitol Hill to vote, he vowed: “Later on today, we’ll make clear that we will continue to forcefully push back against that extremism and lay out what the stakes are for the American people.”
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The former New Jersey governor and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie said that he thinks Mike Johnson is the “lucky beneficiary of [Republicans’] exhaustion and their embarassment”.
In response to a question on whether he thinks House Republicans will have to make some sort of compromise with Democrats to elect a speaker if Johnson is unable to secure the necessary votes, Christie said;
“I don’t know … They seemed pretty unified last night. I think they’ve all been beaten into submission and it appears Mike Johnson turns out to be the lucky beneficiary of their exhaustion and their embarrassment. If it doesn’t happen today, then I’m a total loss as to what they do next.
Folks in that caucus are going to have to have a reckoning now. Mike Johnson, if he wins, I hope understands that he is the definition of a compromise candidate and that he needs to act in the way that represents the interest of everybody in the caucus, not just one group in particular.”
“I think they’ve all been beaten into submission and it appears Mike Johnson turns out to be the lucky beneficiary of their exhaustion and their embarrassment.”
— The Recount (@therecount) October 25, 2023
— 2024 GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie in New Hampshire weighs in on the GOP House Speaker race pic.twitter.com/VwgQQwLfOY
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Mike Johnson says he believes he will win 'on the first vote'
Mike Johnson said that he will win “on the first vote”, CNN’s Manu Raju reports.
Mike Johnson told @AnnieGrayerCNN that he will win "on the first vote."
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 25, 2023
Punchbowl News reports that the House is moving into a quorum call.
The House is now moving into a quorum call.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 25, 2023
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Donald Trump throws support behind Mike Johnson: 'He's respected by all'
Donald Trump has hailed Mike Johnson as the House speaker nominee, saying:
“I think Mike Johnson is doing very well. He’s a tremendous congressman, respected by everybody. I hear it looks like it’s really good. I haven’t had one negative comment about him. Everybody likes him. He’s respected by all.”
“I think Mike Johnson is doing very well. He's a tremendous congressman, respected by everybody. I hear it looks like it’s really good. I haven’t had one negative comment about him. Everybody likes him. He’s respected by all.”
— The Recount (@therecount) October 25, 2023
— Trump on House GOP's latest nominee for Speaker pic.twitter.com/rZA5dOiZ56
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The Texas Republican representative Tony Gonzales hailed Mike Johnson’s speakership nomination, tweeting on Wednesday:
“I look forward to working with him to help SECURE the southern border as OUR next Speaker of the US House.”
Mike Johnson and I both represent two of the poorest districts in the country, but the richest in the values held by the great people of #TX23 & #LA04. I look forward to working with him to help SECURE the southern border as OUR next Speaker of the US House. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/WTvi6JpSvj
— Tony Gonzales (@TonyGonzales4TX) October 25, 2023
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With the House set to convene at noon, House speaker nominee Mike Johnson has tweeted the following:
— Rep. Mike Johnson (@RepMikeJohnson) October 25, 2023
Johnson said he will pass the energy and water appropriations bill this week, Punchbowl News reports.
On Monday, Johnson laid out an ambitious House schedule surrounding bills which did not mention any aid to Israel or Ukraine.
NEW -- MIKE JOHNSON, who is likely to win the speakership today, says he will pass the Energy and Water approps bill THIS WEEK pic.twitter.com/VqxCRS7UnE
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 25, 2023
Democrats reportedly call Mike Johnson 'Jordan in a coat'
Punchbowl News is reporting some descriptions of Mike Johnson coming out of the Democrat whips meeting.
Some interesting descriptions for speaker-designate Mike Johnson coming out of the Dem whips meeting:
— Heather Caygle (@heatherscope) October 25, 2023
-He's "Jordan in a coat"
-Johnson is "different waiter, same menu"
W @maxpcohen
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The Senate foreign relations committee has approved Jack Lew’s nomination to serve as the US ambassador to Israel, Punchbowl News reports.
The Biden pick was approved with a 12-9 vote, with Kentucky’s Republican senator Rand Paul voting alongside Democrats in support of Lew.
NEWS — Senate Foreign Relations Committee approves Jack Lew’s nomination to serve as U.S. ambassador to Israel, 12-9.
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) October 25, 2023
Sen. RAND PAUL (R-Ky.) joined all Dems in voting for Lew. All other Republicans voted against.
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Joe Biden has assured Evan Gershkovich’s family that the US will bring the detained Wall Street Journal reporter home from Russia.
The Guardian’s Ramon Antonio Vargas reports:
As the Wall Street Journal’s Evan Gershkovich prepared to spend his 32nd birthday on Thursday in a Moscow lockup, Joe Biden has assured the reporter’s family that the White House will ultimately get him back to the US from Russia, the journalist’s sister said.
Danielle Gershkovich remarked on Tuesday in an interview on Newsmax that the president “promised our family personally that he’s going to get Evan home”.
“His friends and family – we just want him to get back to doing what he loves the most,” Danielle Gershkovich said in reference to her brother’s reporting as she appeared on several cable news networks across the political spectrum. “Evan’s not here yet – the job isn’t done, and we’re waiting to see him home.”
Gershkovich in late March became the first American journalist to be held in Russia on spying charges since the end of the cold war. He was at the end of a work trip when he was detained in Ekaterinburg.
For the full story, click here:
Several House Republicans have told Punchbowl News that they think Mike Johnson could win the speakership on the first ballot today.
Several House Republicans tell me they think Mike Johnson could win the speakership on the first ballot.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 25, 2023
House gavels in at noon.
Here are some images from the newswires last night following Mike Johnson’s House speaker nomination:
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The Republican senator for Maine Susan Collins said she will Google who Mike Johnson is, CNN’s Lauren Fox reports.
“I asked Susan Collins what it would be like to work with Johnson on spending issues and she said she doesn’t know him, but was going to Google him this morning,” Fox tweeted on Wednesday.
I asked Susan Collins what it would be like to work with Johnson on spending issues and she said she doesn't know him, but was going to Google him this morning
— Lauren Fox (@FoxReports) October 25, 2023
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Nearly one in four Americans believe that political violence is justified to “save” the country, a new report shows.
The Guardian’s David Smith reports:
The 14th annual American Values Survey, carried out by the non-profit Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) in partnership with the Brookings Institution thinktank, offers a snapshot of America’s deepening polarisation and willingness to contemplate taking up arms.
Even as Joe Biden has sought to lower the temperature, support for political violence has increased over the past two years, the survey shows. Today about 23% of Americans agree that “because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country” – up from 15% in 2021.
The PRRI has asked this question in eight separate surveys since March 2021 but this is the first time that support for political violence has risen above 20% in the general population.
One in three Republicans believe that “true American patriots” may have to resort to violence to save the country, compared with 22% of independents and 13% of Democrats – all representing increases since 2021. Almost one in three white evangelical Protestants believe that patriots may have to resort to political violence to save the country, markedly higher than any other religious group.
For the full story, click here:
The White House has cancelled its plans to have the American new wave band B-52s perform at Wednesday’s state dinner for the Australian prime minister.
The Associated Press reports the first lady, Jill Biden, saying the performance would be inappropriate at a time when “so many are facing sorrow and pain”.
“We made a few adjustments to the entertainment portion of the evening,” she said, without directly referring to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
“Nurturing our partnerships and relationships with our allies is critically important, especially in these tumultuous times,” Jill Biden added. “Food is comforting, reassuring and healing, and we hope that this dinner provides a little of that as well.”
Members of the band will instead be guests at the state dinner.
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House Republicans booed a reporter after she appeared to ask Mike Johnson, who led an amicus brief that urged supreme court justices to overturn 2020 electoral votes from key swing states, about his involvement.
In response to the question, “You help lead the effort to overturn the 2020 election results, do you–,” a group of House Republicans standing behind Johnson immediately started booing, with one saying, “Shut up!”
Johnson meanwhile shook his head, smiled and said, “Next question.”
Reporter: You help lead the effort to overturn the 2020 election results, do you—
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 25, 2023
Republicans: *boo* shut up pic.twitter.com/L7R5fwhpIi
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Mike Johnson: 'This House Republican majority is united'
Speaking about his nomination, Mike Johnson said, “This is leadership” and maintained that the House Republican conference is united.
“We’re going to restore your trust in what we do here. You’re going to see a new form of government and we’re going to move this quickly. This group here is ready to govern and we’re going to govern well,” said Johnson.
He added, “You’re going to see this group working like a well-oiled machine.”
Rep. Mike Johnson after being nominated for Speaker: “Democracy is messy sometimes, but it is our system. This conference that you see, this House Republican majority, is united.”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 25, 2023
pic.twitter.com/4ycz7eSWZl
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Mike Johnson becomes latest nominee with support unclear
Good morning,
After weeks of political infighting and unsucesseful speaker nominations, the Louisiana Republican representative Mike Johnson has become the GOP’s latest nominee for the House speaker’s chair last night.
Johnson’s nomination came just hours after Tom Emmer, a Minnesota representative, withdrew his speaker bid due to opposition from hard-right Republicans.
Johnson is now the fourth nominee to attempt to secure 217 votes needed to win the gavel, following Emmer, as well as Ohio’s Jim Jordan and Louisiana’s Steve Scalise.
Speaking to reporters following his nomination, Johnson said: “Democracy is messy sometimes but it is our system … This House Republican majority is united.”
With no speaker since Republicans ousted Kevin McCarthy from the seat earlier this month, the House has been left in a limbo and unable to pass legislation needed to respond to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine.
With the House set to meet at noon, it remains to be seen whether Johnson will be able to overcome the political divisions that the previous candidates faced.
Here are other developments:
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will welcome the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and his partner, Jodie Haydon, to the White House today.
Mark Meadows, Donald Tump’s former White House chief of staff, testified in the 2020 election case after being granted limited immunity.
Nearly one in four Americans believe political violence is justified to “save” the country, according to a new report.
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