Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) has emerged as the next Speaker of the House, marking a pivotal moment for House Republicans. Johnson, who currently serves as the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference, secured the GOP nomination in the wake of House Majority Whip Tom Emmer’s (R-MN) withdrawal on Tuesday night.
The final showdown took place on the House floor, where Johnson faced off against Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). The stakes were high, and Johnson’s victory, with a final tally of 220-209, demonstrated his unwavering support within the Republican ranks.
In a statement following his election, Johnson expressed his deep gratitude, saying, “It is the honor of a lifetime to have been elected the 56th Speaker of the House.”
He continued, “As Speaker, I will ensure the House delivers results and inspires change for the American people. 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. And we will restore sanity to a government desperately in need of it. Let’s get back to work.”
It is the honor of a lifetime to have been elected the 56th Speaker of the House.
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…
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) October 25, 2023
The transition of power will see Johnson take the Speaker’s gavel from Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), who had been serving as speaker pro tempore over the past few weeks. Johnson’s ascent to the role of Speaker brings hope and anticipation of a more unified and focused Republican leadership as it put an end to a weeks-long stalemate that had gripped the GOP.
Previously, three prominent Republican figures, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), and Tom Emmer, had all vied for the coveted position without success before Johnson’s candidacy won the day.
Both Jordan and Scalise supported Johnson, as well as McCarthy, Gaetz, and former President Donald Trump, who encouraged House Republicans to support Johnson on Wednesday.
However, not everyone was impressed with the outcome. Democrats expressed concerns about his nomination, with a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman stating that electing Johnson as speaker “would represent how the Republican conference has completely given in to the most extreme fringes of their party and embraced an agenda that promotes a total, nationwide abortion ban, espouses conspiracy theories, and cutting Social Security and Medicare.”
