The 119th Congress is convening for the primary time on Friday and Home Speaker Mike Johnson is combating for his political life — once more.
Whereas the Louisiana Republican has the assist of President-elect Donald Trump, it is going to be Home Republicans who will determine whether or not to reelect him to his submit as Speaker of the Home. Far-right Republicans have at occasions grown annoyed with Johnson’s management and are liable to demanding concessions when their votes change into important.
A flop by Johnson may throw Monday’s congressional certification of Trump’s 2024 election victory into turmoil with out a Home speaker.
This is the most recent:
The speaker election has began
Home Republican Convention Chair Lisa McClain kicked off the speaker election by nominating Mike Johnson to be the speaker for the 119th Congress.
Additionally learn | US Home begins management vote in a check of unity for Trump’s Republicans
What occurs subsequent?
1. Nominations
As soon as the Home is in a quorum — that 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 social gathering’s electoral losses.
2. Voting
Lawmakers name out the title of their alternative for speaker from the ground, a uncommon and time-consuming roll name. Members usually brighten up the proceedings by shouting or standing when casting their vote. Lawmakers aren’t obligated to vote for his or her social gathering’s nominated candidate. Any title will be referred to as out from the Home flooring. Whereas it has been the custom for the speaker to be a member of the Home, it isn’t required.
3. Outcomes
Ought to 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 Home begins his reelection vote.
Voting for the speaker of the Home is quickly to start
The subsequent speaker should obtain a majority of the votes solid. 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.
These voting received their election in November, however they can not take the oath of workplace till a brand new speaker has been elected.
Colors of the political spectrum
New and returning lawmakers donned their Sunday greatest to the primary day of the brand new Congress, with most of the ladies adhering to the standard colours of their political social gathering.
Purple ties and attire for Republican members will be seen scattered throughout the Home flooring whereas throughout the aisle Democratic ladies styled numerous shades of blue.
What number of votes does Johnson must win?
Johnson instructions one of many slimmest majorities in fashionable occasions, 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 nearly each Republican for assist within the face of Democratic opposition, although the standard 218 majority wanted may shift with absences and others voting solely “current.”
The 118th Congress has come to a detailed
Earlier than his election for speaker can start, Speaker Mike Johnson opened Friday’s session by declaring that the 118th Congress has come to a detailed.
On his solution to the Home flooring earlier, he was requested by reporters if he’ll win the speakership throughout the first spherical of voting.
“I hope so. We’ll see,” he mentioned.
A festive temper within the Home chamber forward of the speaker vote
Lawmakers are shortly filtering into the Home 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 youngsters onto the Home flooring with them to absorb some historical past.
Quickly, it should change 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 Home chamber
Democratic lawmakers are standing and applauding as Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi has entered the Home chamber as a brand new Congress begins to assemble.
The previous speaker had hip alternative surgical procedure lately at a U.S. navy hospital in Germany after falling whereas at an occasion in Luxembourg with different members of Congress.
The previous speaker walked gingerly to a seat in the midst of the chamber. A number of colleagues moved shortly to greet her.
Members start to spill onto the Home flooring forward of speaker’s race
New and returning lawmakers walked across the chamber, taking selfies with their youngsters and households forward of what’s anticipated to be a contentious few hours as Republicans battle amongst themselves to elect a speaker.
Johnson might not have the complete assist he wants
Johnson instructions one of many slimmest majorities in fashionable occasions, 220-215, having misplaced seats within the November election. That leaves him counting on nearly each Republican for assist within the face of Democratic opposition.
Right here’s a take a look at a few of the Republicans who’ve signaled they could vote towards him:
A take a look at a few of the history-making members of Congress set to be sworn in as we speak
The speaker’s election is about to dominate the opening of the brand new Congress, however the day may also convey a roster of history-making members.
Within 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 affix the chamber.
Within the Home, Sarah McBride is the primary overtly transgender particular person within the Congress.
And Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who 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 occasions in U.S. historical past, in keeping with the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. No speaker had ever been eliminated till eight Republicans joined with Democrats to oust McCarthy.
Barring these situations, a speaker is often elected at the beginning 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’
Home Speaker Mike Johnson walked into the Capitol on Friday morning seemingly optimistic about his probabilities of being reelected speaker by his convention regardless of rising frustrations amongst far-right members of the social gathering.
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 “isn’t just about one particular person however about shifting ahead with the America First agenda, the mandate given ahead by the American folks.”
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 alternate for a vote aside from decide to make this establishment work as successfully and effectively as potential,” he mentioned.
Trump needs Johnson good luck
President-elect Donald Trump referred to as the U.S. Home speaker “a high-quality 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 social gathering.
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 as we speak will likely be a giant win for the Republican Get together,” Trump posted on Fact Social.
What the speaker battle may imply for Trump
Johnson’s weak grip on the gavel threatens not solely his personal survival however Trump’s bold agenda of tax cuts and mass deportations as Republicans sweep to energy in Washington.
A flop by Johnson may 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 occasions, having misplaced seats within the November election, leaving him counting on nearly 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. Home 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 Home can’t manage till it has a speaker as a result of that particular person successfully serves because the Home’s presiding officer and the establishment’s administrative head. The Home can elect a brand new speaker at any time if the particular person occupying that function dies, resigns or is faraway from workplace.
