On Wednesday, the Republican-led House elected Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) as its 56th speaker following a weeks-long stalemate in which three Republican nominees failed to unite the party and win the vote after Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) got pushed out of the speakership.
Johnson defeated Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), the nominee for the Democrats, in a vote of 220-209.
Johnson managed to largely unite the Republican Party, which has a narrow majority in the House, which the three prior nominees — House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) — failed to do.
“It is the honor of a lifetime to have been elected the 56th Speaker of the House,” Johnson said in a post on X. “Thank you to my colleagues, friends, staff, and family for the unmatched support throughout this process.”
“It has been an arduous few weeks, and a reminder that the House is as complicated and diverse as the people we represent,” he continued. “The urgency of this moment demands bold, decisive action to restore trust, advance our legislative priorities, and demonstrate good governance. Our House Republican Conference is united, and eager to work.”
“As Speaker, I will ensure the House delivers results and inspires change for the American people,” he added. “We will restore trust in this body. We will advance a comprehensive conservative policy agenda, combat the harmful policies of the Biden Administration, and support our allies abroad. And we will restore sanity to a government desperately in need of it. Let’s get back to work.”
It is the honor of a lifetime to have been elected the 56th Speaker of the House.
Thank you to my colleagues, friends, staff, and family for the unmatched support throughout this process.
It has been an arduous few weeks, and a reminder that the House is as complicated and…
— Rep. Mike Johnson (@RepMikeJohnson) October 25, 2023
