The 119th Congress convenes Friday as embattled Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) fights to keep his gavel after 14 rocky months.
The House will meet at noon and must elect a Speaker before conducting any official business, legislative or otherwise. Members cannot be sworn in until after the Speaker is elected. The House cannot officially adopt its rules package either.
The Speaker must receive a majority of votes of the entire House chamber. With former Rep. Matt Gaetz not expected to take his seat, 219 Republicans will be expected to 215 Democrats. Johnson can only lose one Republican vote, if all Democrats vote for another candidate as expected.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has made clear he will vote against Johnson come hell or high water. Johnson cannot lose another vote.
Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX) and around a dozen other members are continuing to negotiate with Johnson up until the first – perhaps only – ballot over how the House will operate. Johnson’s opposition wants to ensure Johnson will work with his own members, not Democrats, to craft giant legislative packages, to fight for spending cuts, and ensure committees and individual members have input. They’d also like the House to return to regular order.
Across the Capitol, the Senate will conduct routine business with no fireworks expected. The Senate is a continuing body which does not need to enact a new rules package at the beginning of each Congress. Only the newly elected Senators must be sworn in. Their heavy lifting of vetting and confirming President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees and moving his legislative agenda is unlikely to begin in earnest for another week.
But in the House, high drama is expected. Johnson, fresh off a renewed Trump endorsement, is publicly expressing confidence he can win on the first ballot. But his opponents may wish to make him sweat in order to squeeze out additional concessions. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) has publicly advocated for moving Roy to the chairmanship of the powerful Rules Committee, although Johnson is unlikely to make that move if it is at all possible to avoid doing so.
Johnson is in better shape after Trump’s endorsement, but he may have to earn the gavel in the final hours. If he can’t get across the finish line, the House might again devolve into chaos as it did in January 2023 and October 2023 when former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) first took 15 ballots to win the gavel and then got ejected after only nine months as Speaker.
If the first ballot is inconclusive, the House cannot recess due to no rules package having been adopted. After a first or subsequent inconclusive ballot, Johnson could choose to adjourn for a set amount of time, perhaps even until Saturday, or he could continue to pressure members inside the chambers – in front of television cameras.
If Johnson can’t win after two or three ballots, all bets are off.
UPDATE 3:25 p.m. ET:
Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), the dean of the House of Representatives and first elected in 1980, administers the oath of office to Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House. Johnson proceeded to swear in all members of the House en masse. Shouts and handshakes erupt across the House chamber.
UPDATE 3:21 p.m. ET:
Johnson read Thomas Jefferson’s daily prayer to the assembled members of the House:
Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people, the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth. In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
UPDATE 3:18 p.m. ET:
Johnson, in his acceptance speech, says “we will defend our nation’s borders. That’s the number one priority.” Only a handful of Democrats clapped halfheartedly. “You said you would work with us on that, Hakeem,” Johnson added, addressing the Democratic Leader. “I’m counting on it.” Jeffries did not bat an eye.
UPDATE 3:08 p.m. ET:
President-elect Donald Trump congratulated Johnson after his victory, which Trump helped deliver for the Speaker.
“Congratulations to Speaker Mike Johnson for receiving an unprecedented Vote of Confidence in Congress” he posted on Truth Social. “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!”
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113766194492726186
UPDATE 3:07 p.m. ET:
The House Freedom Caucus releases a letter after Johnson’s election as Speaker (noteworthy that Massie, the only Johnson no vote, is not a member of the caucus). The group calls to move quickly to deliver Trump’s agenda and outlines a number of methods to do so, as well as some specific legislative asks which include a ban on congressional stock trading. Expect to hear much more about the requests in this letter in the coming weeks and months.
UPDATE 2:53 p.m. ET:
Donald Trump weighed in with Norman and Self before they changed their vote to Johnson, Punchbowl News reports. Trump delivered Johnson the gavel, and he could take it away if Johnson fails to deliver. You can believe Johnson understands this fact.
UPDATE 2:50 p.m. ET:
Members of the House remain seated as the chamber proceeds with some procedural housekeeping. The House must now vote to certify the rules package for the 119th Congress. Once that vote occurs, the House can recess. The next scheduled order of business for House Republicans is an off-campus meeting tomorrow to discuss a budget reconciliation strategy.
In the end, Trump’s endorsement was enough to get Johnson over the hump, although the vote was dramatic, and Johnson’s detractors sent a clear message that underscores the difficulty Johnson will have moving forward.
Six Republican members initially withheld their votes for Johnson, and an additional three first voted for someone other than Johnson (Massie never changed his vote from Tom Emmer). Those nine symbolic votes match the number that will be required in the 119th Congress to force a motion to vacate vote – the same procedural vote that ended McCarthy’s Speakership and that Johnson only survived last year with the votes of 163 Democrats. If Johnson falters, he could face the vote again – and this time, with Trump in the White House and a Republican Senate, Democrats will not save him.
UPDATE 2:35 p.m. ET:
The vote is closed. Mike Johnson receives 218 vote and will retain his gavel on the first ballot, a stunning development made possible after Trump endorsed the Speaker. It is official.
Rep. Thomas Massie, who voted for Tom Emmer, was the sole Republican vote against Johnson.
UPDATE 2:30 p.m. ET:
Keith Self and Ralph Norman change their votes to Johnson. That’s 218 votes for Johnson. Johnson has secured the support necessary and will be elected Speaker.
UPDATE 2:28 p.m. ET:
Johnson, Norman, and Self approach the front of the House chamber together.
UPDATE 2:26 p.m. ET:
Trump has not made a comment on Truth Social about the race since wishing Johnson “good luck” early Friday morning. Of the three holdouts, Norman initially supported his fellow South Carolinian Nikki Haley in the primary, while Massie initially supported Ron DeSantis.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA) could be seen shielding her mouth during a phone call several minutes ago. Politico reports she was speaking with Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff, and that Greene later approached Massie.
UPDATE 2:14 p.m. ET:
Johnson has been huddled on the House floor with Norman, with Self and others on the fringes of the gaggle. The group just left the room, with Norman, Johnson, Self, and Clyde leading the way.
UPDATE 2:11 p.m. ET:
Massie, who is friends with Matt Gaetz, jokingly responds to Gaetz’s prediction that Johnson would win on the first ballot, “This one didn’t age well. ;)”.
UPDATE 2:07 p.m. ET:
The unofficial tally (the vote has not yet been called):
- Johnson 216
- Jeffries 215
- Emmer 1
- Jordan 1
- Donalds 1
With 434 voting, the majority required is 218. Therefore if the count stands, another ballot will be required.
UPDATE 1:59 p.m. ET:
The number of members opposing Johnson is significant and probably a message coordinated by his detractors (both those who voted for and against him).
Three members voted against Johnson, and six members withheld their vote until the end. That total, nine, matches the newly negotiated threshold by which Republicans can force a motion to vacate vote in the new Congress.
UPDATE 1:53 p.m. ET:
UPDATE 1:41 p.m. ET:
Clyde and Gosar approach the chair after the conclusion of the vote and vote for Johnson. Everyone has now voted, but the vote has not yet closed. Three Republicans voted for someone other than Johnson, who is huddled with his ally Rep. Dusty Johnson. Nancy Mace just approached Johnson as well.
UPDATE 1:36 p.m. ET:
Biggs, Cloud, Andy Harris, Walz, and Roy vote for Johnson when their name is called after the initial roll call. Clyde and Gosar do not vote.
UPDATE 1:33 p.m. ET:
Rep. Mike Waltz did not vote. He was present earlier and is all but certain to vote for Johnson.
UPDATE 1:30 p.m. ET:
It is inconceivable Johnson would have gone into this vote not knowing he would not have the support to win on the first ballot. With voting still open, three Republicans have voted for other members, and six have withheld their votes for the time. Despite his confident posture, Johnson has work to do to win.
Notably, Rep. Andy Ogles, a Johnson critic who nonetheless voted for him, just spend several minutes squatting in the aisle talking with Johnson.
UPDATE 1:28 p.m. ET:
Republican Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) votes for Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) for Speaker. Johnson has now officially lost three Republican votes.
UPDATE 1:25 p.m. ET:
Rep. Chip Roy does not vote when his name is called. He is the sixth Johnson detractor not to do so.
UPDATE 1:24 p.m. ET:
Members not voting will have the opportunity to do so after the roll call has concluded, and Johnson (through the clerk) can keep that vote open. The Republicans not voting are certain to do so, even if not for Johnson; if not voting, the threshold would be lowered from 218, and if all Democrats vote for Jeffries, he would be the Speaker. The Republicans not yet voting may not like Johnson, but is is unthinkable they will allow Jeffries to become Speaker.
UPDATE 1:21 p.m. ET:
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) votes for Jim Jordan for Speaker. It is all but certain Johnson will not win this ballot unless Norman or Massie change their vote.
UPDATE 1:18 p.m. ET:
Massie votes for Republican Whip Tom Emmer for Speaker. This is the first Republican to vote for another member other than Mike Johnson.
Massie’s vote against Johnson was expected, although he had not indicated for whom he would vote.
UPDATE 1:15 p.m. ET:
Democrat Andre Carson also did not vote when his name was called, although he is all but certain to vote for Jeffries at the conclusion of the roll call.
UPDATE 1:10 p.m. ET:
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, is the latest Johnson critic to not vote when his name was called. Unlike Gosar, Harris was present in the chamber and chose not to respond.
Harris joins Gosar, Cloud, Clyde, and Biggs as Johnson critics not voting.
UPDATE 1:08 p.m. ET:
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) also does not vote when his name was called. Although he has been a Johnson critic, Gosar indicated earlier this week he would support Johnson. He does not appear to be in the Chamber now after having been present minutes before his name was called. Notably, he was sitting beside Massie and Chip Roy.
UPDATE 1:05 p.m. ET:
The members not voting thus far will have the opportunity to vote later. Although Johnson is seated throughout the vote, Johnson (through the clerk) could hold the vote open after all names are called in order to have additional conversations or negotiations with members opposing him (no Republicans on the record opposing him yet) or not voting. McCarthy did this in January 2023 when trying to wrangle votes.
UPDATE 1:01 p.m. ET:
Michael Cloud and Andrew Clyde, Johnson critics, do not vote when their names are called, joining Biggs.
Republican Rep. Jim Baird also did not vote earlier, but that appears to be because he did not hear.
UPDATE 12:59 p.m. ET:
Burchett and Burlison vote for Johnson. Both votes were uncertain, with Burchett moments prior to voting predicting multiple rounds.
UPDATE 12:55 p.m. ET:
Andy Biggs does not vote when his name is called. He can vote later, but the tension inside is high.
“Don’t let us down Mister Speaker,” Boebert says as she votes for Johnson.
UPDATE 12:50 p.m. ET:
Nominations for Speakers have concluded, as have the nomination speeches. The vote will commence shortly.
UPDATE 12:48 p.m. ET:
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), a Johnson critic and one of the most colorful House Republicans, says “This will go to multiple rounds.” Burchett’s name will come quickly in the roll call vote.
UPDATE 12:45 p.m. ET:
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA), the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, is giving the speech to nominate Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) for Speaker.
Aguilar calls Democrats the “governing majority” of the House. After an astounding 163 Democrats voted in May to keep Mike Johnson as Speaker, Jeffries took a victory lap on CBS’s 60 Minutes to brag about wrestling away control of the House from Johnson.
“Even though we’re in the minority, we effectively have been governing as if we were in the majority because we continue to provide a majority of the votes necessary to get things done,” he said. “Those are just the facts.”
UPDATE 12:36 p.m. ET:
The quorum call has ended. The clerk is making a series of announcements that will take place before the Speaker vote. Hank Johnson did not participate in the quorum call but just entered the chamber. He can still vote
The clerk announces Gaetz will not be seated, to applause from Democrats and a few Republicans.
UPDATE 12:39 p.m. ET:
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI), recently elected to replace Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) as the fourth-ranking House Republican, is now giving the speech formally nominating Mike Johnson as speaker.
UPDATE 12:32 p.m. ET:
Democrat Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) has not yet voted and does not appear to be in the chamber. The quorum call is ongoing.
If Johnson does not show, that drops the magic number for Johnson to 217.
UPDATE 12:24 p.m. ET:
And just like that, Spartz replies to Johnson’s post suggesting she will support Johnson.
UPDATE 12:21 p.m. ET:
Johnson announces three commitments, but nothing groundbreaking. He promises a working group on DOGE, another working group reviewing existing government audits, and to encourage committees to “undertake aggressive authorizations and appropriations reviews” – which is their job. The working groups might be enough to hold over Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN), a Johnson critic, but working groups are notorious for producing nothing.
UPDATE 12:20 p.m. ET:
The quorum call’s 15 minutes have conducted, but the vote has not yet been called. It is routine for these votes to continue past the conclusion of the timer.
The House floor is often chaotic, with 435 members and staffs running around. But today there are dozens of children (including small toddlers) and family members, adding to the din. Members and children are taking photos with one another.
UPDATE 12:11 p.m. ET:
Once the roll call vote for Speaker begins, the roll call vote will proceed in alphabetical order. Some early names to watch are Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Eric Burlison (R-MO), Michael Cloud (R-TX), and Eli Crane (R-AZ).
UPDATE 12:08 p.m. ET:
Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), another Johnson critic, tells Punchbowl News he will “probably” vote for Johnson.
UPDATE 12:03 p.m. ET:
The House is conducting a quorum call vote to last 15 minutes. This is an electronic vote, after which the House will continue to the Speaker vote.
The vote for Speaker will be a roll call vote of all 435 representative-elects, but remember, Gaetz is not here, so the number is expected to be 434 representatives-elect present and voting.
The number to get is 218, and there are 219 Republicans here. Massie is a firm no. Johnson can lose no more.
UPDATE 12:01 p.m. ET:
The Clerk of the House has called the House to order. The chaplain is offering a prayer. We have begun.
UPDATE 11:59 a.m. ET:
Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO), another conservative critical of Johnson, tells Punchbowl News he is a yes “for now” on Johnson. It’s important to note that there are many moving parts here, with multiple members wanting different concessions or versions of concessions from Johnson. And a handful may simply want to make him sweat.
UPDATE 11:56 a.m. ET:
Johnson just adjourned the previous congress, slamming his gavel to make it official. We are minutes away from the 119th Congress.
UPDATE 11:54 a.m. ET:
CNN reports Trump is using a light hand while pressing members to vote for Johnson. He says he’s “not telling them anything,” CNN reports, with Trump adding “it would be nice to cement the election with an election here.”
UPDATE 11:51 am EST:
Trump tells CNN he is confident Johnson will win over holdouts. “Chip Roy will do what’s right for the country,” he said. Roy has been leading the negotiations with Johnson ahead of the first vote.
UPDATE 11:47 a.m. EST:
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) arrives in the chamber to light applause from Democrats. She broke her hip in December while in Europe on official government business. Democrats are expected to have all their members present for the vote.
UPDATE 11:46 a.m. EST:
Johnson has arrived on the House floor fifteen minutes before the new Congress begins. He’s walking around the chamber greeting members and is now having a conversation with the House chaplain..
UPDATE 11:45 a.m. EST:
Rep. Don Bacon, a moderate often critical of House conservatives, tells NOTUS that “putting Chip Roy in charge of the Rules Committee is like putting Stalin in charge of amnesty and diplomacy.”
But conservatives are pushing back, highlighting Bacon’s voting record and castigating him as a RINO.
UPDATE 11:42 a.m. ET:
Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) also predicts Johnson wins on the first ballot, although as a member of leadership, Emmer is likely to parrot Johnson’s messaging.
UPDATE 11:40 a.m. ET:
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), a Trump ally, new television host, and the only member elected to the 119th Congress not expected to attend today, predicts Johnson will win on the first ballot.
Bradley Jaye is a Capitol Hill Correspondent for Breitbart News. Follow him on X/Twitter at @BradleyAJaye
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