The 119th Congress convened Friday, beginning with a pivotal vote to elect the Speaker of the House. Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana, the incumbent, faces a challenging reelection bid, underscored by the narrowest House majority in nearly a century.
With 434 members present and one vacancy, Johnson needs 218 votes to retain his role. Yet, his margin for error is razor-thin, as a single GOP defection could derail his chances. Complicating matters, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky has already declared his opposition, leaving Johnson with limited room to maneuver.
Johnson has the backing of President-elect Donald Trump, but his fate ultimately lies in the hands of House Republicans. Far-right members of his party have expressed frustration with his leadership, often leveraging their votes to demand concessions. This intra-party discord poses a significant hurdle, especially given the stakes: a failure to secure the gavel could disrupt Monday’s congressional certification of Trump’s 2024 election victory.
Adding to the complexity, the House Republican caucus holds 219 seats to the Democrats’ 215, with one seat vacant after Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida announced he would not take office. If all members vote, Johnson needs near-unanimous GOP support to win.
The vote, set to begin at 12 pm EST, will be a critical test of Johnson’s leadership and the GOP’s unity. As the House gathers to decide its Speaker, the outcome could shape the legislative priorities and direction of the new Congress.
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