Recap: Johnson wins the battle for House speaker as holdouts relent

WASHINGTON − House Speaker Mike Johnson won back his job for another term on Friday after a nail-biter finish and now has the daunting task of trying to unify a fractured but potentially powerful group of Republican lawmakers anxious to implement President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda upon his return to the White House later this month.

The final vote of 218-215-1 may reflect the Congress to come: One where the stakes are high, Republicans are about to hold all the levers of power in Washington but internal divisions constantly threaten to boil over, and Trump’s opinion rules the day.

Johnson ultimately secured the speakership with the support of every sitting House Republican except for one − Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who had pledged not to support him weeks ago.

Here’s how the USA TODAY Network covered Johnson’s return to the speaker’s chair.

Johnson made no formal concessions to the holdouts Friday evening. Still, his rein could run short if he alienates even a handful of his fellow House Republicans.

Under new House rules approved Friday evening, nine House Republicans will be needed to call a vote to oust Johnson from his role, a process known as a “motion to vacate.” And unless Democrats would be willing to save him in a closely divided House, nine members would be plenty to kick him out of Speaker’s chair.

The nine-member threshold to trigger a vacating vote is a significantly higher margin than Johnson and his predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, have had for the last two years. Under those insurgent-friendly rules, any single member could call a vote on the speakership.

“Nobody wants to have a sword over their head. But we have a motion to vacate for a reason. He’s been given a job, he’s got to go do that job,” said Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., a House Freedom Caucus member who joined ten other members in voting for Johnson despite “sincere reservations” about his track record.

−Riley Beggin

Trump ‘helpful’ but didn’t seal the deal, holdout says

After first voting for someone other than Johnson, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., said he spoke with President-elect Donald Trump. While that conversation went “very well” and was “helpful,” Norman said, he was alrady well aware of Trump’s preference.

What convinced him to change his vote, Norman said, was speaking with Johnson himself.

“There wasn’t any negotiations, it wasn’t any quid pro quo,” Norman added. “He agreed to fight with a list of things that he knew where we stood. And I trust him.”

Norman said he was promised “a drastic change” from the last Congress, often referred to as one of the least productive in recent memory.

“I knew we needed to press on Mike Johnson that we’re serious about budget, we’re serious about the border,” he said.

“And is he going to fight?”

−Savannah Kuchar

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, opened his remarks to the new Congress by asking for a moment of silence for the 14 people killed in a vehicle attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.

“It’s really shaken our state,” said Johnson, adding, “these are difficult days” in Louisiana. “People are reeling from that attack.”

−Bart Jansen

House Republicans erupted in applause when Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, in a speech introducing GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson, mentioned President-elect Donald Trump’s victory two months earlier.

“Thank you for that very generous applause,” said Jeffries, D-N.Y. “That’s OK, there are no election deniers on our side of the aisle.”

−Bart Jansen

GOP lawmaker who cast initial vote against Johnson spoke to Trump

Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, told reporters that he spoke with Trump both before and after casting an initial vote against Johnson.

He wouldn’t say what they discussed. Self later changed his vote for Johnson.

“President Trump has the same emphasis that I do − the Trump agenda. We’ve got to make sure this Congress is as strong as possible when we go up against the Senate on (the) reconciliation package,” he said, forshadowing an upcoming budget battle. “So that’s all I wanted to do today, is to make this Congress successful for the Trump agenda.”

Self said he was “very frustrated” with how the 118th Congress played out. Republicans won control of the House in 2022 but accomplised little in a term marked by infighting and the removal of GOP Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

“That’s why we needed to shore up the process is to make it more member-oriented for the Trump agenda because we needed more input from members like myself, not a chairman in a leadership position, and I think that’s what we have done,” he said.

−Sudiksha Kochi

President-elect Donald Trump has praised Johnson’s win in a post on Truth Social: “Congratulations to Speaker Mike Johnson for receiving an unprecedented Vote of Confidence in Congress. Mike will be a Great Speaker, and our Country will be the beneficiary. The People of America have waited four years for Common Sense, Strength, and Leadership. They’ll get it now, and America will be greater than ever before!”

−Joey Garrison

Before ushering GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson to the dais, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries recognized fellow Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who participated in the convening of the new Congress despite having a hip replaced after a fall last month in Luxembourg.

“Speaker-emerita Pelosi, it’s great to see you back in the chamber,” Jeffries, D-N.Y., said to applause.

−Bart Jansen

Mike Johnson re-enters the chamber to applause from both sides of the aisle, followed by his second-in-command, Rep. Steve Scalise, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and other members of leadership from both parties.

Even some of Johnson’s detractors seem relieved − a protracted leadership battle has been avoided as they head into a period of total GOP control.

−Riley Beggin

Chip Roy, a Texas Republican who initially remained silent during the first round of voting before supporting Mike Johnson, said more lawmakers have reservations about the speaker than the three who voted for other candidates.

“Everything we do needs to set the Congress up for success and to deliver the Trump agenda for the American people,” Roy said in a social media post. “Speaker Johnson has not made that clear yet, so there are many members beyond the three who voted for someone else who have reservations.”

Scott Perry of Pennsylvania said he would hold Johnson responsible for accomplishing the Republican agenda on issues such as security along the southern border, cutting federal spending, eliminating costly regulations and implementing a ban on lawmakers trading individual stocks.

“While I maintain my reservations about Speaker Johnson’s leadership record, today I voted in support of President Trump’s Agenda,” Perry said on social media. “We will hold Speaker Johnson accountable to accomplish the Republican Agenda.”

−Bart Jansen

House Republicans elected Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday after three lawmakers initially supported other candidates and temporarily blocked his selection despite an endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump.

The House erupted in applause after Ralph Norman of South Carolina changed his vote from supporting Jim Jordan of Ohio to supporting Johnson and Keith Self of Texas changed his vote from supporting Byron Donalds of Florida.

That resulted in 218 votes for Johnson, of Louisiana, against 215 votes for Democrat Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Republican Thomas Massie of Kentucky voted for Tom Emmer of Minnesota rather than Johnson.

The House couldn’t anything else until it elected a speaker, including swear in new members.

With the Jan. 6 certification of Trump’s victory right around the corner and the presidential inauguration in 17 days, lawmakers have little time to lose.

−Bart Jansen

The House has not yet gaveled in the first vote for speaker. It’s an unusually long time between voting finishing and the vote being called.

Mike Johnson is meeting with a few of the holdouts in a room adjacent to the House floor.

Currently, the vote stands at 216-215-3.

Johnson got 216 votes, Hakeem Jeffries received 215. Three Republicans − Reps. Thomas Massie, Keith Self and Ralph Norman – voted for other GOP lawmakers.

If Johnson can convince just one of those three Republicans to flip, he will win with 217 votes.

Another path forward: Convincing two of them to switch to voting “present,” reducing the total threshold needed for a majority.

−Riley Beggin

Among the three House Republicans who voted for someone other than Mike Johnson for speaker, Thomas Massie of Kentucky might be the least likely to change his mind.

Massie told former Rep. Matt Gaetz on his One America News program Thursday that he wouldn’t be voting for Johnson.

“You can pull all my fingernails out,” Massie said. “You can shove bamboo up in them. You can start cutting off my fingers. I am not voting for Mike Johnson tomorrow, and you can take that to the bank.”

−Bart Jansen

A handful of Republican lawmakers-elect didn’t announce votes in the first round of balloting, signaling a problem for Mike Johnson of Louisiana to retain the speakership, but they later each voted for Johnson.

The seven holdouts included Andy Biggs of Arizona, Michael Cloud of Texas, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Andy Harris of Maryland, Chip Roy of Texas and Michael Waltz of Florida.

The bearded Harris could be seen in the back of the chamber studiously not responding when his name was initially called. Roy stood silent amid the seating.

Sitting next to Johnson, Steve Scalise of Louisiana, who is in line to become House majority leader if Johnson is chosen speaker, jotted notes as votes were announced.

But each eventually supported Johnson. Cloud and Gosar voted from the well of the House before the vote was gaveled closed.

−Bart Jansen

Hakeem Jeffries and Mike Johnson – relatively close to one another in the alphabetical voting order – both vote for themselves. Their respective parties give them a standing…

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