By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 119th Congress began today and the first order of businesses was electing the Speaker of the House.
After winning over a handful of Republican holdouts, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R- LA) was elected by his colleagues to serve a second term as Speaker.
During the initial vote on the House floor this afternoon, a small group of conservatives held out against Johnson. Representatives Keith Self (R- TX), Rep. Thomas Massie (R- KY) and Ralph Norman (R- SC) all voted against Johnson at first. Reps. Self and Norman switched their vote to Johnson after a brief discussion away from cameras.
Hardline conservatives, including members of the House Freedom Caucus, wanted to make their concerns heard. Freedom caucus members provided an ambitious list of policy goals and legislation, like permanent immigration changes and funding cuts, in exchange for their support.
Hardliners made it clear that their continued support is contingent upon ambitious policy goals, many of them outlined on their list. Johnson spoke about some policy goals when addressing the newly sworn-in House members of the 119th Congress this afternoon.
“This Congress will renounce the status quo and we will listen to the voices of the people. We will act quickly. And we will start by defending our nation’s borders. That’s the number one priority,” said Johnson after winning the gavel.
Republicans who’ve been vocal supporters of Johnson, were relieved the House avoided a repeat of 2023, when it took former Speaker Kevin McCarthy four days and 15 ballots to win the gavel.
“It was great to get it in one round. It allows us to move ahead,” said Glenn “GT” Thompson (R- PA). “I’m excited, everything has just kind of gone well today.”
“We’ve come together. We’ve elected a speaker, and now we can get to work,” said Rep. Nick Langworthy (R- NY). “We have a constitutional mandate to meet on Monday to certify the presidential election results and prepare for an inauguration of a new president. Our work ahead of us is great and we don’t have time to spend bickering. So this is a huge relief.”
Johnson’s success today is just the first test of his second term as Speaker. He will need to lead a narrowly divided House and appease hardline conservatives within his own conference to advance key components of President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda.
