Live updates: Rep Mike Johnson of Louisiana elected speaker of the House

Table Of Content

• McCarthy hints House may continue votes through weekend
• Top GOP leaders were at odds with McCarthy and Jordan over interim speaker resolution
• Jeffries
• Dems celebrate largest ever Black Congressional Caucus, but exclude GOP's Byron Donalds
• Republicans who opposed Jordan for speaker are now rallying behind Johnson
• House Democrats have not yet made a decision on resolution to empower McHenry
• USC protests remain peaceful Saturday night after campus is closed, LAPD calls off tactical alert

The several times she ran for speaker, she faced a number of detractors in a closed-door conference vote but was able to clinch the gavel each time her nomination came to the floor vote. Rep. Jim Jordan lost 20 Republican votes Tuesday in his first round of balloting for House speaker, creating an uphill climb to win the gavel. In the second ballot, Jordan lost more ground than he gained, winning 199 votes, compared to the 200 he won on the first ballot. "That four threshold is very tough. It's a very tough thing, no matter who it is," Trump said, referring to the number of Republican defections a speaker candidate can afford to lose and still win on the floor with a GOP majority. "I said there's only one person that can do it all the way. You know who that is? Jesus Christ."

McCarthy hints House may continue votes through weekend

After the Republican conference meeting ended, Johnson spoke briefly to reporters and said that his intention is to go the House floor Wednesday for a noon vote. He did not disclose the tally of the roll call vote in the conference to gauge support for his nomination, but said he was "very confident" he could win the 217 GOP votes he needs to win the speaker's gavel on the House floor. To win the speakership, a candidate needs a majority of all members who are voting for a candidate. If all members are present and voting for a candidate, that means McCarthy could lose the votes of only four Republicans and be elected. If some members don’t vote or vote “present” — as several holdouts did in the final round — the majority threshold can be lowered.

Top GOP leaders were at odds with McCarthy and Jordan over interim speaker resolution

Jeffries also said that conversations between senior Democrats and Republicans have “accelerated” in recent days and that it’s his hope they will continue to do so tonight. Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana won in a three-round vote late Tuesday to become the next speaker-designee — the fourth since Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California was ousted from the position on Oct. 3. Trump seemed to acknowledge his role in killing Emmer's quest for the gavel, as he shared on his social media platform an article from Politico about how the former president "torpedoed" the bid.

Jeffries

How Mike Johnson Is Taming Trump and His Party — Against All Odds - POLITICO

How Mike Johnson Is Taming Trump and His Party — Against All Odds.

Posted: Tue, 23 Apr 2024 18:03:07 GMT [source]

"One of the things that I think won a big round of applause inside the room was that Tom Emmer said, 'Listen, we're not gonna do this shell diplomacy," Johnson told reporters. "We're not gonna break up in small rooms. I'm not gonna say one thing to you differently than what I'm gonna say to you." Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida proclaimed on social media that she would not be supporting Emmer in a floor vote. He did not respond to reporters' questions about whether he was still in the race.

House Democrats help Johnson avoid defeat on foreign aid bills, despite GOP defections - ABC News

House Democrats help Johnson avoid defeat on foreign aid bills, despite GOP defections.

Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Dems celebrate largest ever Black Congressional Caucus, but exclude GOP's Byron Donalds

"The Republicans need to fast forward this process to pick a candidate so we can get on with doing the people’s business," Bera said. "I would support a unity candidate if that's what it takes, because we need a Speaker of the House." The sixth round of voting for House speaker ended just like the last two rounds – with no one able to reach 218, and uncertainty about who can do it and when it might happen. Rep.-elect Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., who previously voted for McCarthy, voted "present" in the fourth, fifth and sixth series. The signed statement offered support to the “20 courageous members of Congress,” who voted against McCarthy. To bow out of the speakership race are former Reagan administration Attorney General Ed Meese, Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and David McIntosh, president of Club for Growth.

A GOP source said that some members only committed to backing Jordan for speaker on the first ballot so opposition to the Ohio Republican could grow in future votes. Jordan said the expected return of Florida Rep. Gus Bilirakis, a Jordan supporter who missed the first vote to be at his mother-in-law’s funeral, should help him and insisted they are chipping away at the holdouts. After Jordan secured his party’s speaker nomination, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy urged the conference to rally around Jordan, according to multiple lawmakers in the room. Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota declined Tuesday to say whether former President Donald Trump was a factor in his decision to end his bid for the speakership. Republicans held a candidate forum Tuesday night with five members vying to be the next speaker-designee after Emmer withdrew. Scalise had been the party's first nominee after McCarthy was ousted, but withdrew his name one day after winning the internal GOP vote.

House Democrats have not yet made a decision on resolution to empower McHenry

Emmer can only afford four defections in a vote on the House floor to still win the speakership. Rep. Kevin Hern, the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, told reporters that he decided to forgo his candidacy for speaker and is instead supporting Rep. Mike Johnson. Johnson, a former radio host from Louisiana, was first elected to Congress in 2016. Johnson, who was first elected to Congress in 2016, voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results. Washington — Rep. Mike Johnson won the GOP nomination for House speaker Tuesday night, defeating Rep. Byron Donalds and becoming the fourth speaker designate selected by his party since Rep. Kevin McCarthy's historic removal as speaker — and the second in a single day.

Instead, senators organized without incident and expeditiously vacated the Capitol to let their counterparts across the Rotunda sully themselves alone. After Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, who ending up holding the deciding vote, said “present,” most seated at the bar fell quiet. As the vote-casting began, a few people packed their bags, closed out their tabs and left.

On Nov. 8, 2020, Mr. Johnson was onstage at a northwest Louisiana church speaking about Christianity in America when Mr. Trump called. Mr. Johnson had been in touch with the president’s team on his myriad legal challenges seeking to overturn the results, “to restore the integrity of our election process,” according to a Facebook post by Mr. Johnson recounting the exchange. Mr. Johnson said Mr. Jordan called him when he was running for office, because “he knew I was a conservative,” contributed money to his campaign and invited him to Washington for a meeting with him and other Freedom Caucus members. The election on Wednesday of Mr. Johnson, 51, to the post second in line to the presidency has focused new attention on his behind-the-scenes role in trying to overturn the election results on behalf of former President Donald J. Trump. If Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio was the most prominent public face of the congressional effort to fight the results of the 2020 election, his mentee, the newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, was a silent but pivotal partner.

Representative Pete Aguilar of California, the Democratic conference chairman, said that the speaker fight had devolved into a contest over “who can appease Donald Trump.” At that line, a handful of hard-right Republicans stood and applauded. Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., chair of the Freedom Caucus, said Tuesday that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has failed to show he is worthy of leading the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives. “The meeting was very hostile and I don’t think it did anything to persuade those who are inclined to vote against Kevin McCarthy,” Good told Fox News. Good is one of five Republicans who have said they cannot vote for McCarthy.

Just before the vote, McCarthy said some progress was made in negotiations with his opponents, and said it would be more productive to keep talking rather than hold more votes. The CFL also reportedly spent $900,000 on campaign ads supporting Crane in Arizona. Rep.-elect Byron Donalds has responded to criticism from fellow Rep.-elect Cori Bush, who said his "being Black" makes him a "prop" in the House speaker race. "I’m tired of your stupid platitudes that some consultant told you to say on the campaign trail, alright," Crenshaw said of the 20 Republican defectors, according to the Washington Post’s Dylan Wells.

Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., says he is getting closer to the gavel some members are starting to wonder about potential retribution for voting against him. McCarthy has discussed granting the HFC more positions on the House Rules Committee as well as lowering the threshold for forcing a vote to remove the speaker to just one majority-party lawmaker. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., offered more concessions to members of the House Freedom Caucus opposing his bid for speaker late Wedesday. Late Wednesday night after the House decided to adjourn for the day, Pelosi called out Republicans for their "cavalier attitude" in electing a new Speaker, tweeting "all who serve in the House share a responsibility to bring dignity to this body." The House of Representatives failed to elect a speaker for the first time since 1923. Incoming House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries pivoted from having to address a fellow Democrat's inflammatory remarks about GOP Rep.-elect Byron Donalds.

A new deal could deliver some new votes to McCarthy that have so far been voting against him. "We BLOCKED Kevin McCarthy from becoming Speaker of the House," Biggs reportedly wrote in the email. "...but now, we conservatives must lead the fight to get the leadership we deserve. Saving this country from Joe Biden and the Left is going to be tough. That's why we need a leader who has the record, skill, and ferocity to lead the House GOP."

The glimmer of consensus came only hours after Mr. Emmer’s abrupt exit made him the third Republican this month to be chosen to lead the party, only to have his bid collapse in a seemingly endless cycle of G.O.P. grievances, personality conflicts and ideological rifts. To show support for racial equality, Mr. Johnson in the past has told audiences that he and his wife adopted a Black teenager they met through an evangelical youth group — like the movie “The Blind Side” but without the N.F.L. prospects, he has quipped. Mr. Johnson’s hallmark in Congress has been combining his hard-line views with a gentle personal style.

House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy failed to reach 218 votes in the third round of voting for House speaker on Tuesday, and watched Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio pick one vote. The 20 Republicans joined forces to vote for Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who has endorsed McCarthy for the speakership. House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy tried three times to reach the 218 votes needed to secure a majority and become speaker but fell short each time. He collected 203 votes twice, then dipped to 202 votes before Republicans and Democrats quickly voted by voice to adjourn with no debate and almost no opposition from the vote-weary members. The House abruptly adjourned Tuesday following a third failed vote for McCarthy. Lawmakers will return to the chamber at noon on Wednesday after the overnight recess.