Rep. Mike Johnson was humiliated on Friday after three Republicans bucked him during the first ballot with the Republican party in chaos.
In scenes similar to the circus that led to Kevin McCarthy being ousted in 2023, members of the GOP staged a protest by voting against their leader.
With an ultra-slim majority, just two GOP ‘no’ votes would have been enough to stop Johnson from victory.
Ultimately, three Republicans bucked Johnson in the first round, a slap in the face to President-elect Donald Trump who has for weeks touted his support for the speaker’s reelection.
The vote was 216 for Johnson, 215 for Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, and three votes for other candidates. Though the vote was wasn’t gaveled out after it was closed, so lawmakers still had the opportunity to change their votes.
Those three Republicans who voted for other candidates were Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and freshman Keith Self of Texas.
After the ballot closed, Johnson scurried out of the chamber to huddle with Self and Norman to try and change their minds.
The trio were seen talking, presumably trying to find common ground on getting Johnson elected.
Minutes after they emerged from their private chat, the two holdouts changed their vote to Johnson – putting him over the edge to win the speakership on the first vote 218 to 215, with holdout GOP Thomas Massie, R-Ky., voting for Whip Tom Emmer.
Firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., was even spotted on the phone with Trump’s incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles while pacing the House floor following what looked to be Johnson’s initial defeat.
U.S. Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to reporters outside his office at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 3, 2025. He was re-elected as speaker of the House on Friday
U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) speaks on the phone with incoming Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, as representatives gather to vote for the new Speaker of the House on the first day of the 119th Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 3, 2025
Johnson was always expected to lose some Republican support, though.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., declared for weeks ahead of the vote that he was against reelecting the speaker, meaning only one more GOP ‘No’ vote would be enough to tank Johnson’s chances.
Massie on Friday voted for Johnson’s deputy, Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., instead.
Then, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., shockingly voted for Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, causing Johnson to lose the vote on the first ballot.
His vote caused the chamber to pause as members came to realize that they would be forced to begin the whole voting process again.
After Norman, Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, voted for Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., further exacerbating Johnson’s first ballot loss.
Shockingly, even more GOP members initially withheld their vote.
House Freedom Caucus (HFC) chair Andy Harris and some other members of the group did not answer when called upon to cast their vote, stirring drama in the chamber as members sat on edge waiting to see if they had to go through the lengthy voting process again.
Reps. Andy Biggs, Andrew Clyde, Michael Cloud, Paul Gosar, Chip Ropy, all members of the HFC in addition to Harris, did not vote initially.
But later they were called again, and all cast their votes for Johnson. Had they not voted for Johnson, Democrat Jeffries could have won the speakership.
Representatives Chip Roy, Republican from Texas, Ralph Norman, Republican from South Carolina, and Tim Burchett, Republican from Tennessee, speak with each other as Thomas Massie, Republican from Kentucky, looks on during the vote for Speaker of the House during the first day of the 119th Congress in the House Chamber at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 3, 2025. Massie and Norman voted against Johnson
Rep. Chip Roy (L) talks to Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) as they arrive for the first day of the 119th Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 03, 2025 in Washington, DC.
The speaker had repeatedly said he will not strike quid pro quo deals with members to secure their voting for him, meaning he does not have much to offer Self, Norman or Massie.
Minutes before the vote, Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., posted on X that the vote for speaker will not be finished after one ballot: ‘This will go to multiple rounds.’
Though Burchett ultimately voted for Johnson, his post ended up being prophetic.
Just ahead of the vote Friday President-elect Trump made clear to all House Republicans where he stood in a Truth Social post: ‘Good luck today for Speaker Mike Johnson, a fine man of great ability, who is very close to having 100% support.’
‘A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party, and yet another acknowledgment of our 129 year most consequential Presidential Election!! – A big affirmation, indeed. MAGA!’
If the speaker elections drag on, the engine of Congress may have stall and disrupt Donald Trump’s election certification planned for Monday, January 6.
Since the House cannot function without a speaker, should the vote go to multiple ballots over multiple days the chamber may have not be in order to certify the 2024 election results on time.
Knowing this, Johnson warned the GOP they could not ‘afford a palace drama.’
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) is working to retain the Speakership in the face of opposition within his own party as the 119th Congress holds its first session to vote for a new Speaker of the House.
Thomas Massie voted against Johnson for speaker on Friday
He also posted on X just ahead of the speaker vote a list of promises that he would keep to placate GOP members concerned with the federal budget deficit.
One of those promises was to create a group of outside experts to work alongside Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut spending.
So Johnson took meeting after meeting on Thursday with conservative members of his conference to hear their concerns, and to convince them to vote for him.
Republican Reps. Chip Roy, Victoria Spartz, Harris, Biggs, Ralph Norman, Crane, and more lawmakers on the fence about voting met with the speaker on Thursday.
Roy, R-Texas, said Johnson was a good friend, but remained undecided until the vote. He’s been critical of the speaker for his handling of the spending deal to avoid a government shutdown last month.
Spartz, meanwhile, told reporters just head of the vote that she had decided to support Johnson. Though Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., indicated before the vote that the speakership will go to multiple ballots.
Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., nominated Johnson to again become speaker with a glowing speech.
‘Over 14 months ago Mike Johnson took on a daunting task. No speaker is perfect, and no one will ever be. However, achieving perfection requires incremental gains and hard decisions along the way, none of us will get exactly what we want.’
‘Mike has remained the same kind and caring person he was before he assumed this role … It is my honor to represent our conference’s nominee for the speaker of the people’s house, the Honorable Mike Johnson from the state of Louisiana.’
Though her rousing address was not enough to get all Republicans on board, and now the party will force further votes on Johnson’s reelection until a speaker is chosen.
