Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
There's Finally a Speaker of the House. It's Conservative Mike Johnson of Louisiana.
By admin
Published 1 year ago on
October 25, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

WASHINGTON — Both relieved and exultant, Republicans unanimously elected Rep. Mike Johnson as House speaker on Wednesday, elevating a deeply conservative but lesser-known leader to the seat of U.S. power and ending for now the political chaos in their majority.

Johnson, 51, of Louisiana, swept through on the first ballot with support from all Republicans anxious to put the past weeks of tumult behind and get on with the business of governing. He was quickly sworn into office.

“The people’s House is back in business,” Johnson declared after taking the gavel.

Valadao, Costa Say They’re Eager to Return to Work

Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) said he was glad the House has a Speaker again and declared himself ready to get back to work.

“We have a crisis at our southern border, one of our closest allies in the Middle East at war, and a deadline to fund the government in less than 30 days,” Valadao said in a statement to GV Wire.

“Today, the House elected a Speaker so we can get back to work on these issues, along with other must-pass legislation including the National Defense Authorization Act, the FAA Reauthorization, and the Farm Bill. It’s time to get back to work for the American people.”

On the other side of the aisle, Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) said he was hopeful that Congress could work together to help Americans.

“After 22 days without a Speaker of the House, today’s election of Rep. Johnson means we can get back to work,” Costa said in a statement. “We have a lot of work to do,  including keeping the government funded by passing a budget.

“The American people deserve a Congress that can govern and deliver for them in times of crisis. My hope is that we now work in a bipartisan fashion to get things done on behalf of the American people.”

Who Is Mike Johnson?

Johnson’s Sudden Emergence

A lower-ranked member of the House GOP leadership team, Johnson emerged as the fourth Republican nominee in what had become an almost absurd cycle of political infighting since Kevin McCarthy’s ouster as GOP factions jockeyed for power. While not the party’s top choice for the gavel, the deeply religious and even-keeled Johnson has few foes and an important GOP backer: Donald Trump.

“I think he’s gonna be a fantastic speaker,” Trump said Wednesday at the New York courthouse where the former president, who is now the Republican front-runner for president in 2024, is on trial over a lawsuit alleging business fraud.

Three weeks on without a House speaker, the Republicans have been wasting their majority status — a maddening embarrassment to some, democracy in action to others, but not at all how the House is expected to function.

Far-right members had refused to accept a more traditional speaker, and moderate conservatives didn’t want a hard-liner. While Johnson had no opponents during a private party roll call late Tuesday, some two dozen Republicans did not vote, more than enough to sink his nomination.

Republicans Rally Around Johnson

But when GOP Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik rose to introduce Johnson’s name Wednesday as their nominee, Republicans jumped to their feet for a standing ovation.

“House Republicans and Speaker Mike Johnson will never give up,” she said.

Democrats again nominated their leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, criticizing Johnson as an architect of Trump’s legal effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

With Republicans controlling the House only 221-212 over Democrats, Johnson could afford just a few detractors to win the gavel. He won 220-209, with a few absences.

Jeffries: Dems Will Find Common Ground Whenever Possible

Jeffries said House Democrats will find “common ground” work with Republicans whenever possible for the “good of the country.”

Lawmakers were quickly reconvening in what has been a shuttered chamber to consider a House resolution in support of Israel in the war against Hamas.

Overnight the endorsements for Johnson started pouring in, including from failed speaker hopefuls. Rep. Jim Jordan, the hard-charging Judiciary Committee chairman, gave his support, as did Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the fellow Louisiana congressman, who stood behind Johnson after he won the nomination.

“Mike! Mike! Mike!” lawmakers chanted at a press conference after the late-night internal vote, surrounding Johnson and posing for selfies in a show of support.

(GV Wire contributed to this report.)

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

DON'T MISS

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

DON'T MISS

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

DON'T MISS

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

DON'T MISS

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

DON'T MISS

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

DON'T MISS

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

DON'T MISS

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

DON'T MISS

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

DON'T MISS

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

UP NEXT

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

UP NEXT

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

UP NEXT

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

UP NEXT

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

UP NEXT

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

UP NEXT

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

UP NEXT

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

UP NEXT

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

UP NEXT

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

UP NEXT

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

10 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

11 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

23 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

23 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

24 hours ago

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

24 hours ago

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

24 hours ago

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

1 day ago

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

1 day ago

MrBeast Probe Ends With Some Employees Fired but Finds No Proof of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

1 day ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

Peanut butter is a childhood staple for many in the United States. Whether it’s a classic PB&J sandwich, a fluffernutter, cookies ...

9 hours ago

9 hours ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

9 hours ago

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

9 hours ago

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

10 hours ago

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

11 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

23 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

23 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

24 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

Search

Send this to a friend