The 119th Congress is convening for the primary time on Friday and House Speaker Mike Johnson is combating for his political life — once more.
While the Louisiana Republican has the assist of President-elect Donald Trump, it is going to be House Republicans who will determine whether or not to reelect him to his submit as Speaker of the House. Far-right Republicans have at instances grown annoyed with Johnson’s management and are vulnerable to demanding concessions when their votes develop into important.
A flop by Johnson might throw Monday’s congressional certification of Trump’s 2024 election victory into turmoil with no House speaker.
Here’s the most recent:
The speaker election has began
House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain kicked off the speaker election by nominating Mike Johnson to be the speaker for the 119th Congress.
Also learn | US House begins management vote in a take a look at of unity for Trump’s Republicans
What occurs subsequent?
1. Nominations
Once the House is in a quorum — which means the minimal variety of members are current to proceed — nominating speeches will likely be made on behalf of the nominees for speaker. Republicans selected Johnson as their nominee for speaker in a closed-door vote in November. Per week later, Democrats unanimously selected Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., to stay their chief regardless of the celebration’s electoral losses.
2. Voting
Lawmakers name out the identify of their alternative for speaker from the ground, a uncommon and time-consuming roll name. Members typically enliven the proceedings by shouting or standing when casting their vote. Lawmakers are usually not obligated to vote for his or her celebration’s nominated candidate. Any identify will be known as out from the House ground. While it has been the custom for the speaker to be a member of the House, it isn’t required.
3. Results
Should Johnson come up brief, it’s possible the clerk will transfer instantly to begin one other roll name vote. If a speaker candidate wins a majority of these current and voting, a bipartisan committee, often consisting of members from the house state of the chosen candidate, will escort the speaker-elect to the chair on the dais the place the oath of workplace is run.
Selfies with the following speaker?
As Johnson’s political destiny hangs within the steadiness, members are utilizing this time to take selfies with the Louisiana Republican.
GOP lawmakers are bringing their infants, grandbabies and siblings to take a photograph with the speaker earlier than the House begins his reelection vote.
Voting for the speaker of the House is quickly to start
The subsequent speaker should obtain a majority of the votes forged. If not, balloting continues till somebody meets that threshold.
Two years in the past, it took Kevin McCarthy 15 rounds of balloting earlier than he gained sufficient assist to take the gavel.
Those voting gained their election in November, however they can not take the oath of workplace till a brand new speaker has been elected.
Colours of the political spectrum
New and returning lawmakers donned their Sunday greatest to the primary day of the brand new Congress, with lots of the ladies adhering to the normal colours of their political celebration.
Red ties and attire for Republican members will be seen scattered throughout the House ground whereas throughout the aisle Democratic ladies styled numerous shades of blue.
How many votes does Johnson have to win?
Johnson instructions one of many slimmest majorities in fashionable instances, 220-215, having misplaced seats within the November election.
The abrupt resignation of Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida drops his tally to 220.
That leaves him counting on virtually each Republican for assist within the face of Democratic opposition, although the everyday 218 majority wanted might shift with absences and others voting solely “current.”
The 118th Congress has come to an in depth
Before his election for speaker can start, Speaker Mike Johnson opened Friday’s session by declaring that the 118th Congress has come to an in depth.
On his strategy to the House ground earlier, he was requested by reporters if he’ll win the speakership in the course of the first spherical of voting.
“I hope so. We’ll see,” he mentioned.
A festive temper within the House chamber forward of the speaker vote
Lawmakers are shortly filtering into the House chambers for the beginning of the 119th Congress, the place the primary order of enterprise will likely be a quorum name after which a roll name vote to elect the following speaker.
For now, it’s a festive ambiance with many lawmakers bringing their kids onto the House ground with them to soak up some historical past.
Soon, it is going to develop into extra critical because the speaker vote is held.
Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., has the backing of President-elect Donald Trump, however can’t afford hardly any holdouts from the Republican facet of the room if he hopes to return to holding the gavel.
Pelosi arrives within the House chamber
Democratic lawmakers are standing and applauding as Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi has entered the House chamber as a brand new Congress begins to collect.
The former speaker had hip alternative surgical procedure just lately at a U.S. army hospital in Germany after falling whereas at an occasion in Luxembourg with different members of Congress.
The former speaker walked gingerly to a seat in the midst of the chamber. Several colleagues moved shortly to greet her.
Members start to spill onto the House ground forward of speaker’s race
New and returning lawmakers walked across the chamber, taking selfies with their kids and households forward of what’s anticipated to be a contentious few hours as Republicans battle amongst themselves to elect a speaker.
Johnson could not have the complete assist he wants
Johnson instructions one of many slimmest majorities in fashionable instances, 220-215, having misplaced seats within the November election. That leaves him counting on virtually each Republican for assist within the face of Democratic opposition.
Here’s a take a look at among the Republicans who’ve signaled they might vote towards him:
A take a look at among the history-making members of Congress set to be sworn in right this moment
The speaker’s election is ready to dominate the opening of the brand new Congress, however the day may even carry a roster of history-making members.
In the Senate, two Black ladies — Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland — will likely be sworn in, the primary time within the nation’s historical past two Black ladies senators will serve on the identical time.
Sen.-elect Andy Kim of New Jersey is also making historical past as the primary Korean American to hitch the chamber.
In the House, Sarah McBride is the primary brazenly transgender particular person within the Congress.
And Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who just lately suffered a fall abroad and underwent hip alternative surgical procedure, will make her personal return to Washington, a reminder of the facility she wielded when Democrats final held the bulk.
Has a speakership ever been vacant?
The speakership has been vacant solely 13 instances in U.S. historical past, in accordance with the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. No speaker had ever been eliminated till eight Republicans joined with Democrats to oust McCarthy.
Barring these cases, a speaker is generally elected at first of a brand new Congress and serves within the job for the complete two-year session.
Johnson’s message to holdouts: ‘We don’t have time for drama’
House Speaker Mike Johnson walked into the Capitol on Friday morning seemingly optimistic about his possibilities of being reelected speaker by his convention regardless of rising frustrations amongst far-right members of the celebration.
When requested by a reporter what his message was to his holdouts, the Louisiana Republican mentioned, “We have to unify,” including that the speaker election “is not only about one particular person however about transferring ahead with the America First agenda, the mandate given ahead by the American individuals.”
Johnson denied that he was making any back-door offers.
“There isn’t any quid professional quo right here. I don’t do something in trade for a vote aside from decide to make this establishment work as successfully and effectively as attainable,” he mentioned.
Trump needs Johnson good luck
President-elect Donald Trump known as the U.S. House speaker “a positive man of nice means” and wished him good luck on Friday, when the brand new Congress convenes and Republican lawmakers will determine whether or not to reelect Mike Johnson to steer their celebration.
Trump endorsed the Louisiana Republican earlier this week, however whether or not that assist will likely be sufficient is unclear. Trump mentioned Johnson “could be very near having 100% assist,” however some members of the far proper have grown more and more annoyed with Johnson’s management and his dealing with of funding fights such because the latest short-term spending invoice.
“A win for Mike right this moment will likely be an enormous win for the Republican Party,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
What the speaker battle might imply for Trump
Johnson’s weak grip on the gavel threatens not solely his personal survival however Trump’s formidable agenda of tax cuts and mass deportations as Republicans sweep to energy in Washington.
A flop by Johnson might throw Monday’s congressional certification of Trump’s 2024 election victory into turmoil if there isn’t a speaker.
Johnson instructions one of many slimmest majorities in fashionable instances, having misplaced seats within the November election, leaving him counting on virtually each Republican for assist and with almost no votes to spare.
Electing a speaker
Electing a speaker is the primary order of enterprise for the U.S. House after a brand new session of Congress begins at midday. It’s a vote that members take even earlier than being sworn into workplace.
The House can’t manage till it has a speaker as a result of that particular person successfully serves because the House’s presiding officer and the establishment’s administrative head. The House can elect a brand new speaker at any time if the particular person occupying that position dies, resigns or is faraway from workplace.