The 119th Congress convenes Friday as embattled Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) fights to keep his gavel after 14 rocky months.
Representative Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, center, shakes hands after winning the House Speaker election in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. Mike Johnson won reelection as House speaker, overcoming resistance from a small but pivotal group of conservative hardliners after a flurry of last-minute talks and with the help of a critical endorsement from President-electDonald Trump. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg
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.
Continue reading: Breitbart.com
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