The United States House of Representatives has re-elected Republican Mike Johnson as its speaker, in a vote seen as a test of party unity in advance of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term in the White House.
Johnson emerged victorious after an uncertain first round of voting, as some members of his party initially withheld their votes over issues like his role in the recent bipartisan budget negotiations.
He ultimately won the speakership with 218 votes out of a total of 435, after two of the holdouts — Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Keith Self of Texas changed their votes following an intervention from Donald Trump.
Another 215 votes, all Democratic, went to minority leader Hakeem Jeffries. Representative Thomas Massie, who had pledged to refuse Johnson, cast his vote for fellow Republican Tom Emmer.
The Republicans will need nearly every vote they have to reach a majority in a party-line vote underscoring the narrow margin of control Republicans have over the chamber.
Friday’s vote for Johnson also put Trump’s ability to get Republican votes under the microscope. He had called on the party to back Johnson, as he prepares to pursue an agenda of tax cuts and mass deportation when he takes office on January 20.
The vote for the speakership came on the first day of the 119th Congress, following November’s general election. Republicans hold majorities in both the House and the Senate, after flipping the upper chamber from Democratic control.
Several Republicans had pledged in the lead-up to the session to reject Johnson, particularly after he led a bipartisan push to pass a temporary budget bill in December.
But on Friday morning, top Republicans appeared to rally around Johnson, including Trump himself.
“Good luck today for Speaker Mike Johnson, a fine man of great ability, who is very close to having 100% support,” Trump wrote on social media.
“A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party, and yet another acknowledgment of our 129 year most consequential Presidential Election!!” he added
Nevertheless, after the roll-call vote was held, Johnson was initially shy of the 218 votes needed for victory. With his victory, Johnson remains the third most powerful politician in the United States.