In a resounding display of unity, House Republicans re-elected Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on the first ballot Friday, a stark contrast to the protracted speaker vote that marked the beginning of the 118th Congress. The vote tally stood at 218-215-1, with Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) as the sole Republican dissenting vote.
Capitol Hill Dome, left, and Mike Johnson, right (Getty)
Celebrations erupted across social media following the vote. Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) expressed enthusiasm on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating their readiness to collaborate with President Trump. Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the House GOP's commitment to working with the president on key priorities such as economic stability, border security, energy independence, and tax reduction.
The path to Johnson's re-election was not entirely smooth. Initial uncertainty arose when Representatives Keith Self (R-TX) and Ralph Norman (R-SC) cast votes for other candidates. However, they ultimately switched their support to Johnson before the final count, allowing him to secure the speakership on the first ballot, a feat that drew sharp comparisons to the 15 ballots required to elect former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
McCarthy was ousted just months into his speakership. (Getty Images)
This swift victory was lauded by several Republicans, including House GOP Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI), who proclaimed the party's readiness to govern. Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY) succinctly captured the prevailing mood, stating, "First day. First ballot. Time to get to work on behalf of the American people."
Despite the eventual outcome, the initial stages of the vote were marked by suspense. Several members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, including Representatives Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Michael Cloud (R-TX), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), HFC Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD), Chip Roy (R-TX), and Mike Waltz (R-FL), initially withheld their votes, briefly jeopardizing Johnson's re-election. However, they subsequently voted for Johnson, citing their support for President Trump's agenda.
Harris is the newest HFC chair. (Getty Images)
Representative Scott Perry (R-PA), a former HFC chairman, expressed reservations about Johnson's leadership but ultimately voted for him to support the president's agenda. He outlined key policy priorities, including border security, spending cuts, deregulation, and reversing certain Biden administration policies. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN), another HFC member, congratulated Johnson and expressed his anticipation for collaborative efforts to advance the president's legislative goals.
Johnson avoided McCarthy's lengthy vote process. (Valerie Plesch)
