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Democratic lawmakers had mixed reactions to Republican Rep. Mike Johnson’s reelection as Speaker of the House for the 119th Congress.
On Friday, lawmakers gathered at Parliament House to vote to elect a speaker before the start of the new parliament. Johnson won the speaker’s election in the first round, but not all Republicans supported his candidacy from the beginning.
In the first round, three Republicans voted for candidates other than Johnson. But after a brief meeting with Mr. Johnson in the Republican cloakroom, Republican supporters Ralph Norman and Keith Self changed their votes on the first ballot, securing Mr. Johnson the chairmanship. .
While it remained unclear whether Republicans would change their votes, Democrats began to respond on social media.
Mike Johnson reelected as House speaker as threat of Republican insurrection dissipates
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) speaks with Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn., left) on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, January 3, after Johnson was elected speaker of the 119th Congress. receive blessings from 2025. (Tom Williams)
“The Republican civil war is in full swing, and it’s only day one,” House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries wrote in a post to X just before two of the Republican holdouts changed their votes. I wrote it in
“Wow, it only took a few minutes for Republicans to take this train off the tracks without voting for Speaker of the House,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D.M.) in a social media post. said. “We had hoped that in 2024 we would be able to emerge from dysfunction and be working for the American people! But we are heading into a second round of speaker votes.”
However, sentiment changed after Johnson won the gavel in just one round. One Democrat credited Johnson with securing the speakership with a single vote after Republicans took four days to elect a speaker in January 2023.
After Trump’s 11th-hour call, Republican rebels switch votes to Johnson, pushing him over the finish line
“To his credit, Mike Johnson learned from the 15th round debacle two years ago. Instead of trying to disrupt the conference with a quick second round, he twisted his arm behind the scenes. The vote remained open during the hand-wringing and hand-wringing that took place.The result: Two people changed their votes, “enough votes to win the gavel,” said Hank, R-Ga.・Congressman Johnson said.
House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (New York) speaks to the media during a press conference at the Capitol. (Kevin Dietch)
“This battle is over, but keep the popcorn nearby.”
“Hell has frozen over (literally, it’s snowing in Washington, D.C.)! Just one vote determines the Speaker of the House for now!” Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, told X.
“Now that we have a chair, let’s get to work,” said Democratic Representative Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky.
After Johnson won the speaker’s race, other Democrats also congratulated him.
“Congratulations to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson for re-election,” Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Jake Auchincloss posted on social media. “There are several vetted bipartisan bills on the docket that the president could bring to the floor immediately to help Americans, including providing housing, paying for Rx drugs, and securing our borders. ”
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, said, “For now, we have a speaker!” (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)
Democratic lawmakers unanimously voted for New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries.
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“215 @HouseDemocrats standing united behind our leader @RepJeffries. Round 1. Every round,” Rep. Catherine Clark, D-Mass., said in a post on X after the vote. Ta.
Aubrey Spady is a writer for Fox News Digital.
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